When I showed up to my first recovery group, I expected it to be like the MLB All-Star game. I just knew the other guys there were going to be so far ahead of me on their journey that I wouldn’t even fit in. What I soon discovered, though, was recovery is a lot more like T-ball than the majors.
If you’ve never witnessed a T-Ball game, they’re super-fun. Imagine a bunch of four-year-olds with no idea of what they’re supposed to be doing swinging bats and running around aimlessly. It doesn’t matter whether little Billy ever hits the ball or not—everyone watching the game will still cheer him on as if he hit a grand slam.
Most of the time, half the kids don’t even pay attention to the game—they’re off chasing bugs or picking flowers—but their coach never stops encouraging them from the sidelines. If one of those kids somehow does pick up the ball and toss it back to the right spot, the entire crowd goes wild. “Billy just did something right!” It’s a small victory, but a meaningful one.
What if we shared the same level of enthusiasm for the little victories in our own lives?
You may feel like all you do is strike out in your recovery journey, but that doesn’t mean God has stopped cheering you on. Not at all! He sees your bat getting a little bit closer to the ball with every swing you take and delights in it.
You see, it’s tempting to think that recovery only works once you start hitting home runs. In reality though, it’s the hundreds of tiny steps you make that will end up making the biggest difference in your journey to freedom.
So celebrate these little victories. If you relapsed after a week, focus on the fact that you beat your previous streak by two days.
If you’re still hiding your addiction from everyone you know, be encouraged that you were finally able to seek help anonymously in a forum.
If you’re still not ready to visit a local recovery group, take heart knowing you can always join an X3group to ease the transition.
Whatever you do, try to find ways to focus on the positive steps you’re taking rather than beating yourself up for not being perfect yet.
God understands that you’re just getting started. And much like the parents at the T-ball field, He’s just as excited to watch you learn the game as He will be when you master it. As the great author George Macdonald once wrote:
“What father is not pleased with the first tottering attempt of his little one to walk? What father would be satisfied with anything but the manly step of the full-grown son?”
Remember, your job is to just keep swinging at the ball. (Tweet This!)
Before you know it, you’ll be knocking it out of the park.
Recovery can be a lonely road. Get the support, encouragement, and accountability you need from an X3group. Online recovery focused small groups designed to help you win at recovery and life. Get 50% off your 1st month with discount code X3HALF.
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