Every so often one gets a glimpse into the big picture of things. A peek into what life is really about. Every now and then after straining our feet from standing on our tippy toes, we get to peek and see what’s on the kitchen counter. Maybe it’s a carrot on a cutting board that we spot. Just a small piece of the meal that none of us get to see or taste until this life is done. But nevertheless is it amazing to spot that one carrot. After standing on my tippy toes for an extended period of time, I’m always amazed to see whatever it is I get a quick glimpse of on the kitchen counter. It never ceases to leave me in awe, and soon I find myself back on my tippy toes. Like a child begging to see what his mother is cooking for dinner, after smelling that something awesome is being prepared. One day I’ll see the finished meal. One day I’ll get to taste it. But for now I’m content with catching quick glimpses of the ingredients. I’m happy briefly seeing one carrot.  Tiny pieces of life that will eventually all add up to make a meal. But only so often do we get a peek at the ingredients.

Today after standing on my tippy toes, I spotted a carrot on the cutting board.  I caught a glimpse of the big picture, and it came in the form of an email. When I created my blog 4 years ago I had no idea the amount of people it would reach. The amount of lives it would touch. When I get to catch a glimpse of these things, they are priceless. Things like this keep me going. They keep me writing. They are my fuel. They remind me that’s it’s much bigger than me.

Below are the series of emails exchanged between an anonymous woman and me.

On Thu, 1 Mar 2012

From: Anonymous

Subject: Thank you

Good Morning Baron,

My husband turned me on to your blog a little over a year ago.

He and I are coming up on our five-year wedding anniversary in September and have been together for nearly ten years.  I’m writing you because you are a large part of why my husband and I are still together and in love and stronger than ever.

My husband and I separated in October of 2011 because his addiction to alcohol had taken over our marriage. I had seen it coming for years but never wanted to face it or believe that this could happen to us, to me. I had given him the warnings and threats, all unsuccessful.

When I initiated the separation, I didn’t want it.  I thought that it would “scare him straight”, that it would be his “wake-up call”.

Well…I was wrong.

We were separated for ten months, arguably the worst ten months of my life. Each day I had every intention of filing for divorce; I even made several calls to divorce attorneys. During this awful time, I believed that he didn’t care about me, that he cared more for the alcohol than his wife. With all of this said, there was something holding me back – I couldn’t “pull the trigger”; I couldn’t file that paperwork. At the time I would tell myself that I would call tomorrow, or I was too busy or wasn’t “in the mood” to have that conversation. In hindsight I know that I didn’t do it because God didn’t want me to. God wanted me to wait.

My husband voluntarily checked himself into inpatient alcohol rehab on March 13, 2011. When he got out of rehab and wanted to quit – he stumbled upon your blog post entitled “When Ripples Collide”. There was reference to a column that you had previously written and you included an excerpt from that column: “If it was important enough to start, it is important enough to finish. Don’t quit. Hold on, cling to what is yours until your fingers cramp; and once your fingers cramp switch hands.” This blog post helped him to continue on down his path of sobriety.

He shared the blog post with me and then we began to read… I think we read every one of your posts since the first one posted in 2009. In

August of 2011 you posted a blog entitled “A Storm is Coming”, this helped me to have faith, to trust that my husband would get through this and that our marriage would get through this. He moved back home in August of 2011 and I feel so blessed to say that we are so happy and even talking about starting a family. If you had talked to be back in March of 2011, I would have bet a million dollars that our relationship would end in divorce.

In closing, I’d like to thank you for your inspiring words. Had my husband not stumbled upon your blog post in March of 2011, I’m not sure where we’d be today. I, too, believe that ripples collide.

We are 12 days away from my husband’s one-year anniversary of sobriety (March 13, 2012)… I’m searching for the right gift for him to keep him inspired and to continue to fight against the addiction and to not quit. My favor request to you is would you consider writing him a quick email, just a line or two, to not give up and to continue on? I know you are busy and I’m sure you receive several emails a day, just like this one – so I would understand if you aren’t able to honor this request.

Thank you again. I wish you all the best in life and in your career.

Anonymous

 

On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 11:32 AM

Wow …what an amazing story. This literally made my day. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I would really like to feature this story on my blog with your permission. I could leave names out so it would be anonymous, but it is such a powerful story, and I would love to share it. You also never know how you might affect someone else with your story that you might not ever meet. Perfect example the column of mine that you read. I would love to write your husband back directly through my blog in a post. Like I said I can leave names out but I would love to share this with your permission. Thanks again. If you would rather me not I completely understand that as well!

 

Blessings,

Baron

 

On Thu, 1 Mar 2012

From: Anonymous

Subject: RE: Thank you

Baron,

I would most certainly give my permission for you to share, providing it would be anonymous. I would like to emphasize what an amazing man my husband is. He has come so far and has worked so hard. His strength is inspiring. I know that everything happens for a reason… the difficult times that we went through have only made us stronger. I can honestly say that I am happier today than I ever have been. I am so excited for him to hit the one-year mark of his sobriety and I know that he will succeed. Addiction is a lifelong battle; it’s a daily struggle. He has made a commitment to sobriety and I am so happy for him!

Thank you so much for your response. Reading your upcoming blog post will mean a lot to him!

Anonymous

 

 

So as promised here is my letter to your husband.

Dear Overcomer,

I call you an Overcomer because that’s what you are. I don’t know your name but I know you very well. You and I aren’t much different. We’re both screw-ups that refuse to quit.  We have never met and might not ever meet, but I’m proud of you. Please know that. The easiest thing to do in the world is quit. Give up and rot in self-pity. Crutch around on past mistakes.  But that’s not what Overcomers do. We fight. We stand. We fall. We get up and keep fighting. We stand beaten and bloody acknowledging one true thing. Life is not easy. But that’s ok.

So now 12 days stand between you and one year. Congrats! That’s a major feat. But it is only one step of many, which I’m sure you already know.  Take it one at a time. God will give you enough strength for each day. Only briefly glance back to know what you are coming from, and only peek forward to see where you are going. Stay fixed on the present. Love each day and it will love you. Love your life and it will love you back. Don’t ever give up. Understand you will get discouraged. I know I still do. But don’t ever give up. Don’t ever quit.  Cling to what’s yours until your fingers cramp…and once your fingers cramp switch hands. I don’t know you but I’m proud of you. Stay strong and have faith, and always remember that you are an Overcomer. Always remember that there is a bigger picture. Never discredit the power your story has. It has a purpose. Use it.  My prayer for you is that one day after standing on your tippy toes for long enough, you might just spot your own carrot on a cutting board. Happy early one year of sobriety.

Blessings,

Baron