Thursday, April 24, 2014

Our surrogate Family

The recovery community is a safety net when we’re in trouble.

This week a man I've attended meetings with for years placed his adult son in a hospice. The son, also sober a long time, is losing his battle with hepatitis C.  He lapsed into a coma during the past week.

Recovery friends rallied around, offering encouragement. He's received a lot of love.

Over and over I see this caring when members are in trouble. Recently recovery friends stepped up to help a member who was in the final stages of an illness. They helped pay her bills. They built handicapped access in her home, and did other things to make her life more comfortable.

In this way 12-step members act as a surrogate family. They’re the ones who understand us. They listen to our sad stories without judgment.

When we face challenges they’re at our side, letting us know we're not alone.

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