Barnabus, I have also been there and done that where alcohol is concerned, and must agree with James. IMO, the only way a drunk can get sober, is to hit his own individual bottom, until something becomes more important to him than running away from life, and climbing into the bottle. Each person has a different bottom, and I have never known a formula for knowing what that is in an individual. Any attempt by a family member, or friend, is likely to be of no avail. The drunk knows in his heart that his actions are hurting these people, but the insidious hold of the bottle, prevents him from caring. Any attempt to keep him away from the booze is doomed to failure. Some well meaning people say that others become drunks because they lack will power. I submit, that if you want to see will power in action, just try to keep a drunk away from a drink.
In many cases that I have seen, a tough approach is more effective than the honeyed method. When the drunk realizes that no one is going to wring their hands over his drinking, he may begin to wonder what use there is in doing the drinking.
I am, by no means, an expert in this field, but have been around such situations on numerous occasions, and wanted to get my two cents worth in. It is fine to pray for the afflicted one, but do not forget to pray for those that care about him, and are feeling such terrible distress over his problem. They need the help of God to weather the storm that is, almost, sure to come.
~;=;o --haqi |
