Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Alcohol Is Ugly


Mom helping Dad and her only brother Raymond work on a fishing net. I believe that is me behind my Mom. (Someone gave this photograph to my brother Don to give to me and he can't remember who it was.)
Thanks _______ - for the picture - :-)

For those of us that have lived with alcohol in our lives and have seen the wrecks, hopelessness, sickness and abuses that it causes can understand why I say, "I hate alcohol."

It has robbed me of a loving gentle Dad in my childhood.

It robbed my Mom of peace, rest, and love in her relationship with my Dad.

My Mom's sisters, and one dear brother lost all dignity when they would drink. My memories of them are all mostly drunken.

Sadly, the ugly spirit of alcohol has toyed with our own children. It's a heartache to be woken up when called in the middle of the night or early morning for help to get out of a hard situation. Then follows the aggravation of months of dealing with the aftermath of one "fun" time somewhere - drinking.

Alcohol is the ugly reason my Mom is ousted from her home and made to live in a new situation - with us; just people that time and neglect have made strangers. Year after year she's spent "helping" my alcoholic brother to walk with Jesus. The amount of time she's spent with him, is the same time that she's been oblivious to the rest of her family.

Alcohol robbed me of my own front teeth!

Alcohol was the inhibition-reducing reason for Dad's violent behavior towards his family and friends. When he was not drinking, he was a great Dad and friend.

Alcohol robs bank accounts. Thousands of dollars are wasted - not on things needed for a home, but for more, and more alcohol.

Alcohol makes people become just like it is - ugly.

I hate alcohol.
Who needs it?
...drunks and the weak.

"Now wine today is not like that. Wine today comes straight out of the fruit, particularly the grapes as most wine comes from that, and as it comes it is purposely fermented, that's the whole point of it, to make it somehow intoxicating to one level or another, and it is consumed that way." John MacArthur

Years ago I listened with great interest to a tape as John MacArthur spoke about wine and strong drink in relation to being a deacon or elder or older woman in the church. We are not supposed to drink alcohol. I found a transcript of his message here. I listened because I was told that "it is okay to take a little wine for your health's sake." So to hear the breakdown of what wine actually was in Bible times was awesome! Their wine was nothing like the wines and certainly not the strong drinks of today.

We do not need alcohol, we have other great things to drink and so much to keep and to gain in our lives as families and friends.

COMMENT NOTES:

Connie M. - I was never an alcoholic. My write may have given that impression but was not meant to say that I personally have struggled with alcohol abuse. Sorry for giving that false impression.

Connie BBF - I have wondered that myself. Why do American Natives struggle so much with alcohol abuse? I don't have a reply for you. When my Dad became a Christian, he didn't drink anymore. P'ing T L. I've heard so many say the same thing. I was reading about drinking this morning, and studying scriptures. I read that 1 out of every 10 persons that tries alcohol will become addicted to it. I don't know how so many of those 1's are in our towns and villages in Alaska! It is a wonderment. I can only guess that the evil one uses it - very successfully - to turning our People away from trusting in God, to trusting in a substance for comfort. Not a very good or lasting trade I might add. Perhaps that is the key to why alcoholics have become addicted - for the way it makes them feel: accepted, welcomed, comforted, numb, etc. etc.

6 comments:

Constance said...

I too was around alcohol growing up. I didn't see it to the extent that you have but its effects are devastating nonetheless. Alcohol made my father's childhood a living hell with a stepfather (Grandpa Bud) who would beat him, his brother and his mother (my beloved grandma). After my parents divorced, my mom and I only lived a block away from them. I didn't see much of my father but I stayed at my grandma's before and after school and saw plenty of Grandpa Bud.

I still remember with embarrassment, him lying passed out in their front yard, stepping over him, listening to classmates yell things like,
"Hey! I saw your grandpa lying in the yard again this morning!"

Those were minor compared to his drunken, violent rages and seeing the bruises on my grandma. He was a disgusting, mean man who caused a lot of heartache for my grandma.

Several amazing things happened however:
When I was 12 or 13, he got sick and the doc told him if he didn't quit drinking he was going to die VERY soon. I don't know if it involved God but the man quit drinking cold turkey. He died when I was 17 but I actually got to see a more loving, kinder side of him before he died and that is now what I choose to remember. He gave me an alternative to remember him by.

The other thing involved God leading me into health, wholeness and restoration in regards to my relationship with my father. I didn't realize that some of my anger and bitterness was
a) because of his lack involvement I was thrown into this situation with his stepfather. He above all others should've protected me from the same stuff he witnessed.

The truly amazing thing was the mercy, grace and compassion that God gave me towards my father. I saw him as a sad, scared little boy living in the midst of these rages as he and his loved ones were emotionally and physically abused. He had no role model for how a father should love his children. The other thing was God showed me that I had been protected by Him because many times, children grow up and become what their parents are, abusers, alcoholics and so on...

I do remember for a couple of years, drinking and getting drunk. I think part of that was I was a kid thrown into an adult world (single Mom, 19 years old) and I was around older people who did that very thing. That didn't last long but it was long enough to realize I was heading down a wrong path.

I choose not to drink for many reasons. Like you, I've witnessed how alcohol destroys everything it touches. It is also a liar promising escape for problems as well as promising things it can't deliver.

Do you mind if I ask a question? Why is alcoholism so high among our Native Americans? Not that it's exclusive but I hear so much of it. Is it cultural, generational, economically related, hopelessness? The obvious answer is Jesus, for everyone regardless of who they are or what hurts, habits and hang ups they have!

Hugs, BBF and BFBF!
Connie

TO BECOME said...

I agree with you 100% Connie Marie. Alcohol is a curse on anybody. It carries on to many generations usually til that one is saved or dies.

No all wine in the Bible is not the alcohol kind. It is just what it is "fruit of the vine."

I am so glad that you are saved my friend!!! It breaks my heart to think of you drinking that devil's brew. love to you, connie

Connie Marie said...

Connie M.,

lol, noooo not me! Although I have had a few drinks in my life, it is not me that became an alcoholic. I am sorry to have left that impression.

Susannah said...

Thanks for sharing your heart, Connie Marie. Ditto, ditto, ditto. I doubt there are many families not touched by alcohol (or drugs) in some way. The Lord is able to deliver and bring hope to anyone who struggles.

Attie said...

OOHh I so understand. It has robbed me of many many times. My dad is still an alcoholic. passed on to others . People get hateful and do anything to hide it. i could go on but you know exactly what I could write. But You are a cherished one.

Faith said...

I haven't had any alcohol abuse experience in my (or my husband's) family but I did have an uncle who struggled with it. It is an awful addiction and very painful for all involved. thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. We need to be praying for our friends/family members who are suffering. God bless you!