Today’s blog is from my friend and fellow parent on the journey, Sharron Cosby. A previous guest blogger, Sharron is the mom of a recovering addict and a published author. Her book, Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90, is a wonderful resource. She has an encouraging word for you no matter what your child’s issue might be.

“This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NIV

This verse holds special meaning for me when I recall the dark days of my son’s addiction. When the sun rose each morning, my first thought was, “I wonder what he’ll do today that could end his life.” I greeted the morning with dread instead of joy.

On October 8, 2009, I read Jeremiah 30 and 31. I read of God’s promise to restore and redeem and realized the verse in Psalms could be true. I could rejoice in the new day instead of dreading it. Why? Because “today” could be the one when my son made choices that led to recovery.
My prayer each morning became, “May today be his day. May the light of your Sonshine fill his heart and mind, leading him to a new life.”

My life changed that October morning, but my son’s didn’t. In fact, his addiction grew worse, and I accepted the fact he could die. But I believed the promises I had read in Jeremiah 31:15-17: I could stop my weeping, my tears would be rewarded and my son would return home.

On February 18, 2010, he went back into treatment and has been clean since. He and his wife remarried, they had a second child the day after his five year anniversary. They are closing on their first home February 15th, three days before he celebrates six years clean. He got to this point one day at a time.

I think the Psalmist knew we should live this way, long before Alcoholics Anonymous popularized the phrase, “One day at a time.” He didn’t say, “This is the year the Lord has made…” but rather “this is the day.”

We can rejoice in the twenty-four hours we call a day. We can be thankful our loved one is still alive. We can anticipate a shift in their hearts and minds that will lead them toward recovery. We can extend a helping hand for twenty-four hours to offer peace and comfort to a hurting soul.

In the Nar-Anon pamphlet for Family Groups, there’s a section called, “Just for Today.” The first reading says, “Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep it up for a lifetime.”

“This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Blessings and hope for today.

Meet Sharron Cosby. She’s a Southern Belle from Alabama, now a Florida resident. She’s been married to her childhood boyfriend for forty years and have three children and five grandchildren. The Cosbys found themselves on a journey for which they were unprepared: drug addiction. Their son has battled addiction for almost twenty years before he got clean. His struggles led the Cosbys to enter recovery ministry; Dan, as an addictions counselor and pastor; Sharron, as a writer. Enjoy Sharron’s daily “Hope Hook” on facebook.com/FamilyRecovery.