March 11, 2026 “The Cross of Recovery!”

When we begin our journey of healing, we can imagine a cross as our symbol of Recovery. Through this journey, we experience a spiritual awakening. It takes courage to live a life of Recovery.

Recovery is a gift, whether we are going through suffering or enjoying peace. In both times, we can give thanks each day. Gratitude is important. This gift is freely given to us because we desire to Recover. Our daily practice is to count our blessings, accept the sacrifices we make out of love for Recovery, and make each day count.

When we open our hearts to the 12 Steps, Recovery begins to speak to us. The cross of Recovery calls us to faith, hope, and love. Our priorities show the sacrifices we are willing to make. We are asked to lose our old way of life, and by doing this, we begin to change. Recovery is not measured by what we can give, but by how much we are willing to sacrifice to become whole.

How do we do this? We give time to prayer or quiet reflection. We learn new skills to cope with the stress in our lives. We also support one another so we can grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and intellectually.

The sacrifices we make show others how deeply we love Recovery. To live this way, we empty ourselves in three steps: humility, caring about the needs of others, and offering our lives to the power of Recovery.

Humility helps put out the fire of pride. Recovery reminds us that life is not only about ourselves. We submit to the healing power of Recovery. Our goal is to heal and let the love of Recovery flow through us.

The next step is to care about others’ needs. We are broken human beings, and there is no shame in this. Recovery calls us to rise, to act, and to love both ourselves and others who are struggling.

The final step is to offer our lives to the power of Recovery. When we do this, Recovery begins to shine through us. Imagine a candle. We are the wax, and the light is Recovery. This light helps us face our darkness. It guides us through the world. Then we share this light with others so Recovery can shine in us, through us, and into our families and communities.

What does this look like in my own life of Recovery? Each evening, my wife and I share the joys and sorrows of the day during our time of prayer together. I also try to make small sacrifices for the people I love. For example, I may make an extra trip to the grocery store when my wife asks. I try to make each day count by being mindful and placing relationships at the center of my life.

These may seem like small and simple actions. But over time, these loving choices add up. They help shape me into the best version of myself and strengthen my life of Recovery.