My stepson, 16 at the time, checked into a local in-residence rehabilitation center almost 2 years ago. His father had just thrown him out of the house he grew up in and he faced legal problems as well for vandalism and probation violation. I’m describing the situation matter-of-factly because there are no appropriate words to describe the chaos, betrayal, violence and volume of the time leading up to this moment. He embraced rehab and has now been sober and sane for almost 2 years. He’s back to the person we knew with all the good and bad that went with it, without the aforementioned. It’s the gift we all want and that I now pray for my daughter, now 18, who is an addict that is not in recovery.

The general platitudes about parenting that you learned from your parents, from Bill Cosby or from anywhere else are not going to work. Being unselfish, helping, rescuing, making bold, courageous moves … they don’t work. I hope you detect the  theme from someone who has and is living the nightmare and seeing the solution:

What you think based on the sum total of all your experiences is not going to work with your child that has an alcohol or drug addiction.

What is needed is a completely overhaul of how you feel and think. You must by faith trust a new way that includes healthy recovery for your child and for your entire family — this is the mission of The Sights and Sounds of Enabling. Much of the information will be new to you but it’s not new information. It’s lovingly expressed and supported by these missional authors. Listen to them, learn from them and then BE them.  I can say it’s worth the wait to have your child back.

The Sights and Sounds of Enabling is just a beginning; I strongly recommend it as a first step to sanity and meaning.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (audio version)
• Counterfeit: Lies We Believe About Work
• Day Twelve of The 12-Day Prodigal Prayer Mission
• Day Eleven of the 12-Day Prodigal Prayer Mission
• Day Ten of The 12-Day Prodigal Prayer Mission