Before I came to Al-Anon, I thought my son’s drinking was never going to end. I was either going to have to find a way to stop it or totally give him up and never see him again. That’s how it was in my mind—all or nothing. When I got desperate enough, I found my way to Al‑Anon. You showed me that there are other solutions and that if I kept coming back, I might learn to look at the situation in a different light. I did keep coming, and you were right.
I found a glimmer of hope, and when I surrendered to a Higher Power, that glimmer grew into a ray of sunshine. I started by using the slogans, reading the literature, and working the Steps. By changing myself and my attitudes, I found hope—hope for a future with my son in which I could love and respect him whether he was drinking or not. I could detach from the disease and care for him unconditionally. I “Let Go and Let God” until my son’s Higher Power got him into recovery and sobriety. I also learned, with God’s help, a whole new way of living—the Al-Anon way. Now, instead of feeling powerless and helpless, I am filled with hope, faith, and trust.
By Carol H., Florida
The Forum, August 2022
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.