Keller: Those who suffered with alcohol can help others
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Fifteen years ago, while speaking at Fontainebleau Treatment Center, I met a young man named Steve who was a client.
Upon his release, he wrote me the following letter and gave me permission to share it:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Keller:
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your visits to Fontainebleau Treatment Center. Each time you came, my spirits were lifted. It was great!
During my first week at the center, I was having my doubts about staying and wondering if I would make it. Your great attitude and inspiration gave me confidence that I could succeed.
I told you that first night that I had never known my grandparents. When Mrs. Keller shared that she had the same misfortune, I immediately felt a bond with someone who understood how I felt.
Since my stay at Fontainebleau Treatment Center, I’ve grown spiritually and feel at peace with myself. I’m grateful for the prayers that you said for my wife and me and for our marriage to be healed. I want to regain her trust in me and make her proud of me as a sober human being.
I will keep in touch and hope that one day I will have the ability to help others. You are two special people. I will always consider you my adopted grandparents. What do you say to two people who have had a hand in saving your life?
Thank you and God bless you,
Steve
He enjoyed his sobriety for 12 years. His marriage was healed and his life was great.
But in a weak moment, Steve decided to drink again and continued drinking for two years. It’s been said that alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful. The drug of alcohol had a stronghold on his life.
On Nov. 1 of last year, which was his mother’s birthday, he was tired of deceiving himself and made a commitment to stop drinking.
He called me last week and was excited about being sober and said God has put people in his life to support his “one day at a time” life of sobriety. I have no doubt Steve will be used by God to help others.
If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.