I have a lot of jewelry that I don’t wear.
I love jewelry—I just forget to put it on or even think about adorning myself with it. But there is one piece of jewelry I wear every day that you’d never notice unless you ask to see it. My husband, Dick, writes a little number for me every day on a small piece of paper that I carry in my pocket. It represents the number of days I have been sober.
As I write this, I have 6000 days of sobriety. I used to keep these numbers in my jewelry drawer. Now the numbers have taken over that drawer and the jewels have moved to another drawer.
This is the most precious piece of jewelry I own and wear.
If I don’t have my sobriety, I don’t have anything that is precious in my life.
Dick has made these numbers for me since day one. What a beautiful commitment from him to me. He is a precious jewel too! We’re doing this sobriety journey together. He helps keep me accountable.
I know that some alcoholics in recovery don’t have that kind of support, but we do have each other on this path of sobriety—alcoholics together staying sober one day at a time—talking to each other, keeping each other accountable. We help each other make our sobriety the “number one priority” in our lives. That is our most precious piece of jewelry we wear every day. This jewel may not be visible, but you can wear your sobriety too, by telling me and others your number of days of sobriety. We all need to hear it.
If you look around, you will notice all of the jewels that are there for you when you continue to stay sober and show up for life—the precious jewel God has given you!
You are the jewel.
Don’t hide it in a drawer or lock it in a safe—wear your sobriety with excitement and pride. You earn it each day, just by showing up for yourself and others.
Sober. Whole. Restored. Precious.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
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