Celebrate Recovery Blog

Many of us in recovery can think back to a time when the holidays were a time of year we didn't look forward to.  You may be at a place now where you enjoy this time of year but there are those who still don’t.  Maybe they don’t have family.  Maybe their family isn't safe to be around.  Maybe they've lost a loved one triggering emotions they don’t know how to deal with. Whatever the reasons people struggle with during this time of year, we as Celebrate Recovery leaders, need to be available and make sure we don’t use the holidays as a time for us to take off from ministry.

I realize some go out of town to be with family or go on vacation.  At the same time, we as leaders in this movement of helping the hurting, must take it upon ourselves to make sure there are still meetings. I guarantee people will show up!

One of the greatest things I have been taught in recovery is love is not convenient. In other words, helping people is going to take me right out of my comfort zone. For those of us who meet on Friday nights, Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Friday.  So we “GET TO” practice what we preach and make sure there really are meetings 52 Friday nights of the year.

Also, this might be a  little bit of a stretch for some but here goes anyway.  Look around at your leaders and servants; people who have been serving to grow Celebrate Recovery.  Make sure they have a place to make good memories on these special days.

There are a couple of guys, who are invaluable to our ministry, who have nowhere to celebrate the holidays. So they eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with our family.  They have become a part of our family. Even though they feel like they are the ones being blessed, our family receives the greater blessing.  My parents & Mary's mother, who are up in age, now look for the “extended family” we bring with us.  Other leaders in our CR are also on the lookout for anyone else who has been leading and has nowhere to go and invite them to their homes.   

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:12-13

Blessings on your holiday season and drop me a line when something exciting happens  at your CR .

Peace,

Mac