When the Holidays approach I often think back to when I was a child and how excited I would become as Christmas neared. We were a Christian Family and always attended Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The Clergy was magnificently attired and the choir sang beautiful Christmas Hymns. We hurried home and went to bed to await the arrival of Santa Claus. The only thing that could disrupt this happy event was if my father decided to have a drink. My father was an Alcoholic who never had the benefit of attending a Christian Treatment Center. Any of you reading this that have an addict / alcoholic in the family have probably experienced some anxiety as we approach what should be a wondrous tine of the year.
When I entered a drug rehab in December of 81 there were no Christian Drug Rehabs but the Addiction Treatment Center I attended did allow us to go to church Christmas Day. At the time I remember how sad I was to be in treatment during the holidays but today I know it was a blessing. Addicts find this time of year to be particularly difficult trying to manage of run away from feelings. The result in both cases is to use whatever is their current drug of choice.
Many an addict / alcoholic procrastinate when making the decision to enter addiction treatment this time of year deciding to wait till after the holidays. Many never make it through the holidays. Christian Treatment Centers offer the gift of recovery and a reunion with Christ. What better gifts could be placed under our tree this Christmas Season?