Stephanie
Sometimes I wonder how I got here. How I earned the privilege of standing alongside those who are suffering. To most, I think what I do seems dangerous or crazy. Reaching out to people who are lost in their addiction is not for everyone. There are very difficult days; days where you feel unable to help and wonder if the situation will ever get better. There are also very rewarding days; days of immense joy and overwhelming pride. Days where people do something they never thought they could or accomplish something they knew was impossible. To witness that kind of success is life changing.
This is my story…..
I am a mom and a wife. My sons are my greatest accomplishment. They are wonderful young men with a heart for others who give back to our community. They have goals and plans for their future. This was not an accident.
I am a wife. I have a lot of ideas about how things should be and I can be a challenge to live with when things don’t go my way. I married the right man. He is patient and understands me. He takes things in stride and helps me achieve my dreams. After 28 years, I’ve never once doubted that he is my forever.
I am a dreamer. I love a challenge and work pretty hard at most stuff and I never give up. I can see things in my head before they become a reality. I’ve decided this is a gift.
I am an ordinary girl who decided to say yes. It started small; talking to strangers, offering to buy a meal, listening when no one else would.
I have discovered something amazing! Shhhh, don’t tell anyone. This is between you and me. I am addicted to addicts. This isn’t a title I gave myself; it’s one that was given to me. When I talk to people who are struggling with addiction I see them whole. I see them healthy and happy, living the life intended for them. This is what keeps me going when most people would give up.
The truth is there are extraordinary people trapped in addiction, smart, funny, brilliant people struggling to get free, to breathe, to find peace and to live. I came to know this because I chose to see these people as people, not as their addiction. I go into ditches in the dark. I buy Greyhound bus tickets so people can reunite with their families. I take people to doctor’s appointments and occasionally the hospital. I go to court hearings and write letters addressed to prison inmates. I choose to love people regardless of their circumstances. I choose to see a person as a person who hasn’t been seen by anyone in weeks. I do this because if one of my sons were out on the streets, I’d want someone to reach out to him. I do this because I believe every person is redeemable and worth my time and effort.
I am an ordinary person with a willing heart. I say yes whenever possible and I never give up. I set aside fear and pride to bring hope and love to others and in return they bring great joy to me.
I am blessed. My heart and life will never be the same. My people are my purpose. They inspire me to continue doing what I do, one person at a time, one day at a time. The reward is a life changed, a heart set free and a ripple effect where people inspire others to give and grow and change. This is what I live for. This is who I am.