Consider giving the gift of forgiveness to an addicted person whom you love this holiday season.
If you are still reading this post, you have considered forgiving that person whose opiate addiction has hurt you and your family so much in the past. Perhaps he is your son, your father, your spouse, or someone you know. He may have stolen money from you, lied to you, or even hurt your feelings in ways you never thought possible. She may be your mother, your daughter, your sister or your wife. She may have been high on drugs in front of your children, taken pills out of your medicine cabinet, or was too stoned to keep a promise or a commitment.
At one point, you were probably angry – and rightfully so. Addiction causes people to do things they would never do, such as cheat you or steal from you. Addiction prevents the addicted individual from feeling bad about these events but addiction does not lessen the real damages that opiate abuse inflicts on innocent lives.
Forgiveness does not mean that you condone drug abuse. Forgiveness does not suggest you have given up on all hope of recovery. Forgiveness does not imply that future drug use is okay by you.
Forgiveness for opiate addiction means just the opposite. In fact to forgive means that you are willing to help someone pursue a drug-free life. Forgiveness means you are willing to take up the fight against opiate addiction to save the life of someone you love, at any cost.
To forgive someone does not require that you forget what you have learned. You cannot unlearn the lies you have heard, the nights spent awake and worrying, and the devastating impact drug addiction has had on your life. Forgiveness, in fact, means that you have reached a new level of understanding, one that allows you to love someone despite the past.
Forgiveness is also a gift you give yourself. You can finally let go of all that disappointment, those hurt feelings, the sadness that has weighed down your heart over the years. Letting go of these negative emotions leaves more room for love, hope and compassion.
So what is the best way to forgive someone’s opiate addiction this holiday season? Assist them to seek help.
