Larry Chapter 2

May 2011

Dear Friends,

Last month I shared about one of our respite patients, Larry.  He has battled many things in his life including an alcoholic abusive father.  Praise God Larry is moving out of the darkness and into the light of God’s mercy and love.  In response to that newsletter a dear sister in Christ wrote this letter to Larry and agreed to share it with all of you.

Dear Larry,

I don’t know you and you don’t know me.  The only thing I know about you is that you are my brother in Christ and I felt compelled to write to you.  The other connection we have in common is Christ’s Body.

I used to volunteer there and make lunch every other week.  Because of my husband’s alcoholism, he lost his job and the family income.  I was faced with the obligation to find a job to provide for my family which led to a full time job and not being able to volunteer anymore.

Like you I heard the abuse from my husband when he was drinking.  The only difference was that I believed in a good God who loved me, so I refused to believe the lies my husband would spit out when he was drunk.  I knew that all this was orchestrated by Satan, and refused to hear that I was useless and worthless.

Through the grace of God, my husband is free of the disease.  He has been sober for a year and a half.  He knows that he will never be able to drink again and I pray to God that He gives him freedom from it.  I have forgiven him and every time I feel the anger rise up as I think of the situation he put us through (things are still hard financially) I run to God and ask Him to change the anger to compassion.  It works.  Our relationship is stronger and more real than before.  We still have a long way to go, but I see how God has tended my husband’s soul as well as mine.

Pray for your father (if he is still alive).  Forgive him, and know that he was angry at himself, but you were an easy target.  Those closest to the alcoholic always are.  Refuse to believe the lies that Satan used your father to tell you.  You are worth it, and you can accomplish anything with God, because everything is possible with Jesus.

I pray for you and your father.  May His grace and mercy indwell in you always.  Your sister in Christ.

Thank you for sharing this.  As we tell our stories of both pain and divine healing we encourage and help each other on our journey through this fallen world.  May our merciful Lord continue healing each of us because we all need it.

Galatians 6:2  “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.”