For as long as I can remember, whenever I was in a group of people, my focus was on getting attention. I craved it, especially adoration for things I had claimed as accomplishments.
Obviously, there were many times when I failed to appear praiseworthy and therefore I would fail to get the attention I was craving.
The night I took my first drink, my internal monologue was no longer self-deprecating; my self-esteem went through the roof.
Some years later, after my drinking history had grown long, I went to my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. The folks in the room responded with the most genuine and compassionate greeting I had ever been open enough to receive. That was the moment I felt God’s unconditional love for the first time—the forgiveness revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was for me.
Since that first meeting, by the grace of God, I have experienced many life challenges and not picked up a drink. I have found peace, humility and serenity. All glory and thanks be to God!
This message is adapted from “Reformed” by Anonymous in the January/February 2017 issue of Gather. If you have questions, please write to [email protected] and the editors will pass your message on to the author.
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