Thriving the Holidays: Practical Hope for Families of AddictsSample

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”

In the past few days, we have discussed the importance of setting realistic expectations and boundaries. I hope you have been able to process both your expectations and your boundaries for the holidays and are beginning to communicate them with your family. Today we are pulling from the Serenity Prayer and focusing on control.

How many times have you tried to control every aspect of the holidays? How did it go? Were you really able to enjoy your holiday?

When life feels out of control, it’s easy to try to work even harder at trying to control everything and everyone around us. Before long we feel crazy, have lost our peace, and turn angry and resentful. Accepting and submitting to God’s control and plan for your life is the only way to find peace in situations you cannot control or change.

We may not always know God’s plan, but we can always let go of trying to orchestrate and manipulate events and people and let God do His work. As we’ll read in scripture today, God promises a supernatural peace when we bring our worries and concerns to Him in prayer.

This holiday season, remember this crucial truth: the only person you have control over is yourself. You can’t control others’ words, actions, feelings, or behaviors, but you CAN control how YOU will respond. Everything else belongs to God.

Here are a few tips from those in recovery for families to know as they approach the holidays being clean and sober:

• Allow your loved one to feel “normal” and not like they are being watched. Have normal conversations with them just like you would any other person.
• Make them feel part of the holiday. Ask them to bring a dish, help decorate, set the table, clean up, etc.