Yesterday a long-term client told me how grateful he was for the program. He had nothing when he arrived, except the clothes on his back. When he went to prison he’d lost everything- including contact with his family.
But now his children and grandchildren are back in his life. Today he has a decent job supervising our maintenance projects. And he doesn't just do his job – he also helps the half a dozen men who work for him focus on sobriety. He teaches them to be grateful for what they have. He not only talks gratitude, he teaches it to others by his actions.
He's an example of those who stay sober at TLC. Without exception they’re grateful for what they have today. They don't dwell on the past. They live in the present. They recognize that God has spared them the fate of many of their contemporaries who are still in prison, who are still using or dealing drugs.
It seems almost symptomatic of pending relapse when clients begin to complain about their circumstances. They're unhappy with their job. Or with the weather. They believe they should be further ahead. There is nothing in life that’s rewarding to them. In this state a drink or drug is beckoning and they’re about to respond.
Today I’m grateful for all the blessings – and challenges – in my life.
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