Story

Many, many years ago, my grandpa was addicted to smoking. He’d smoked all his life. It started when he was around 14. He would smoke up to four or five packs a day. One October, I believe it was about 1980, the church held a revival. The preacher asked the congregation to come to the altar and if they had something that they wanted to give up or turn over to God to bring it and lay it on the altar. Whether that meant physically put something on the altar or in your heart and symbolically put it on the altar. Poppy went up and laid his cigarettes on the altar. He never touched them again. He quit completely cold turkey.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t necessarily been able to before, but he’d needed help to do so. My grandma, doubtless, would’ve provided support in his journey to quit, but sometimes, we all need a bigger helping hand than we realize.

This story isn’t meant to preach to you, but it is to show you that there are things in our lives that we’ll want to give up, but it’s just too hard for us to do alone. Recovery, healing, growing, etc.… It’s all a journey that’s going to take time, support, encouragement, and trust. Trust in yourself and trust in the path that you’re on. Some days will be more challenging than others, yes, but when all is said and done, you’ll be so relieved that you kept going.

Be bold,

Landri

Artist

Brittany Paige