It’s Time to Change

I believe in change because when I was about seven years old my parents were alcoholics. It was an addiction that they had. They couldn’t get rid of that horrible craving they contained inside them. Even though I was too young to know what was happening, I still knew it was wrong. The only question that stuck in my mind was why they were doing it. My parents separated multiple times, and I would have to stay with my mom most of the time. I took care of her until she became sober. I prayed every night for my mom and dad to stop drinking, and I waited and waited for my prayers to be answered, but nothing happened. I started to have doubts that my parents would ever change. My life was horrible; I couldn’t go to school because my mom didn’t have a car. I didn’t have any friends, no family, and no dad. I wanted to be a normal child like everyone else.

I never thought one bottle of alcohol could separate a whole family until one day I hid the alcohol from my mom. She became furious and just broke down and cried. But she looked at me and her eyes brightened. She gave me a hug that felt like it lasted for a long time. She kept telling me she was sorry, and I forgave her.

The next day we went to see my dad. His house was a mess and my dad stayed in his room with the TV on. I could hear his favorite, “Bonanza”, an old cowboys and Indians show. I opened the door. I stared at him. He was lying on the bed; he looked at me with his pale eyes.

My mom told him in these exact words, “It’s time to change.”

My heart felt better after I heard those words come out of my mom’s mouth. I had never felt that feeling before, relief. My mom and I helped clean the house and straighten up a little. I knew my life would change, going to school regularly, having friends, and also having a dad. But I also knew my parents’ lives were going to change.

My parents would go back to work and get back together, but most of all, they would permanently stop drinking. In fact, they’ve been sober for five years. We began attending a church called ‘Calvary Chapel.” It felt a little weird at first, but I started to love going. My parents’ lives changed after knowing who God was. It was like they were whole new people (which is a good thing). I love my parents so much. It’s good to know they made the change.