I was stuck in addiction for around 12 years, in that was darkness, selfishness, trying to break free from my own failed attempts at recovery, bad decisions, dishonouring my loved ones, a broken marriage and separation, living on own and turning my back on the Lord, of which at that stage my relationship with the Lord was purely going to church every now and then maybe, to try feel less guilty.
I remember my life as being tough. Although I had a good up bringing with good morals and I knew the Lord, in between I remember strife in my family. The first time I felt the reality of loneliness was when I was around 13 years old. I had battled to accept my step mother and did not see my own mother very often. When I did see her there were no boundaries and I remember having my first taste of alcohol then. When I reached the age of 16 I was smoking weed every day and had already written of my step father car. I recall the carelessness I felt. Lust also had consumed around that age and I was sleeping around and hanging with the wrong crowd. By 18 years old my actions had almost bankrupted my Father because I stole something from my Step Father house and in turn he took my father too court and it was an extremely challenging time of my life as the consequences to my actions were as real as ever then. When I turned 20 my first born son came into this world. That relationship his mom lasted only 2 years on our own and in that time I tried cocaine. As I went into my mid 20’s it was a cycle of up’s and down’s. By the time I was 27 I has gotten married and still heavily into addiction. I had fathered two more children and thought everything was alright, even through my rage filled evenings and weekends going missing. My wife had finally had enough and filed for divorce. The reality of loneliness had hit me once again. I moved into my own townhouse and cut all contact with all my children. In the 10 months of 2011 I had sold everything for drugs and to support my lifestyle of addiction. I abandoned what was left at the townhouse and moved in with the Father of the girl I had living with me.
On the 25th November 2011 I was arrested. At that point I was really at my wits end; I had reached my rock bottom. God was with me all the way that day, to this day it astounds me how it played out with regards to how I was arrested and the timing involved. If it was 5mins later I would have missed the area I was arrested in, and for some reason I remained very calm. So after a couple on mins I kind of realised why I had been arrested and at the courts a section 33 committal was served on me for 3 yrs., with the help a own father of coarse whom I hadn’t even seen in a couple of months and who was working behind the scenes to save my life.
That’s where I met Pastor Kennith of Mighty Wings Benoni, he explained what where and how, although still kind of confused about this whole situation, I found myself having no choice but to start listening for a change. I was committed to a Rehabilitation centre called Healing Wings South Africa in Nelspruit where I spent 13 months ripping out my past emotions, facing my demons, opening old wounds, breaking denial, realising my life was a mess and establishing a relationship with God, my foundation was laid there, I believe that. 6 months into my stay there, my then ex-wife contacted me, obviously very scared, I gave her reason not to trust me. But she contacted me.
I was blessed out of HWSA in December 2012 and began my reintegration program at MWLC, where only then it became apparent to me all the work God was doing in my family’s life when I was in rehab. My wife had joined the program as a supporter; My Dad, Step mother and was there my Brother was there as well; it was as if God spread his grace over my entire family. But my journey was only beginning. Through months and months counselling my wife and I were able to start again. I was able grow within mighty wings, I started a new career. We bought a house. And for that the glory belongs all to my saviour Jesus Christ. God fast tracked a lot for me and I feel blessed. I have two beautiful children with a third born on the 11th November 2014.
Mighty Wing has given me tools to live my life, to be a leader amongst people and a follower of Christ, I still have mountains to conquer and character defects to work on, but through and Lord Practising my faith, sharing my transgressions and being honest these mountains are mere mole hills. I am now a leader @ MWLC and I honoured to be a part of the fruits of recovery, and a part of something much greater than I can imagine, I love my God with all my heart.
Scripture: 1 Tim 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to witch you were called when you made your confession in the presence of many witnesses.