There is nothing wrong with drinking if done in moderation.  My grandfather was a BIG time alcoholic.  I remember the stories mom told me about her dad being inebriated…pretty sad.  I think my grandmother must have been a saint.   My grandfather would  get intoxicated at the tavern and walk home…many times my parents would receive a call that “Ike”, my grandfather’s nick name,  was laying along a roadside ditch near his home.  My dad and mom would go pick him up and take him home.  I don’t know when or why he became an alcoholic…but I suspect somewhere in his family history somebody was an alcoholic, so perhaps he had a genetic tendency.   I don’t know.  I didn’t know my grandpa well… but I loved him and I know it made my mother very sad that grandpa would drink so much.

Alcoholism is a disease that is passed down through generations.  When you realize you are prone to alcoholism because of  family history, you should avoid the habitual use of alcohol.  In fact, you are better off not drinking at all.  I could have been an alcoholic when I was in my early 20’s and single.   I realized that road would have dragged me down to the bottom….left all alone.  That is what happens to some alcoholics…they end up all alone.  Sometimes family members become enablers to their loved ones alcoholism…. why does that happen?

I know I have family members that have or are struggling from this disease…”alcoholism”.  The problem with getting them help is that they deny having a drinking problem… or they think they have it under control.    Alcoholics often label themselves as victims and perhaps in some ways that is true, but because of their addiction they are likely to make family members victims of their behavior as well. 

I have seen this happen and heard stories of how alcoholism not only destroys the drinker…but also affects every loved one that is near them.  Alcoholics often think everybody else is the  problem…not them.  They may say it is their right to drink and if you don’t like it…to bad, they can do what they want to…….but when it drags down your family and all your other relationships, is it worth it?  “Houston, we have a problem here!”

It takes a lot of love and effort to confront a loved one that has a drinking problem.  I have a friend that was  an alcoholic and she told me her sister confronted her.  Her sister saved her life!!  My friend admitted herself to a center and it was very hard…but thank God she did.  Years later we met and became friends and had she not received help, I would have never met this wonderful woman.  I am glad she listened to her sister and  went through detox.

It grieves my heart to see families struggle… especially when the alcoholic tends to drive their loved ones away by abusing them verbally or physically and by not listening to the truth about their addiction and how it is affecting their relationships.

God can help anybody with this disease, so I ask….

First, to the family…..have you confronted your loved one about their problem and what it is doing to you and your family?  If not, why?   If you have and your loved one didn’t listen…don’t give up, try again and again and again.  Ask God to give you courage to confront your loved one, to have patience and endurance and forgiveness.

And to the alcoholic…. It is never to late to stop and face reality and turn your situation around.   Admit you need help and ask for help.    Don’t ignore what your loved ones are saying or have said to you…they want you whole and healthy and they want a positive loving relationship with you.  Ask God to help you…..He will.  He loves you.

Blessings, Auntie M