today we celebrate...

Today Roddie John Riera celebrates 6 years of sobriety.

Six years ago today my baby boy chose life.

I can write so many stories of tragedy and miracles

that led up to his admittance into rehabilitation.

I have even thought many times yesterday just what I would

post today. Yet I realize that the story is not really mines to tell.

It is Roddie's story and the glory, the miracle belongs to him.

Yet in saving himself, he saved our whole family.

So today, I leave you with a journal entry I wrote

while my baby was fighting to live.

A story that still touches me and brings tears to my eyes each

time I tell it.

Enjoy the words I wrote 6 years ago :

MARCH 12, 2004

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT

OUR MOTHER MARY, THE MOTHER OF CHRIST.

NOW WITH RODDIE IN TREATMENT I HAVE

EVEN A BIGGER LOVE FOR HER.

SINCE I HAVE SEEN "THE PASSION OF CHRIST"

I'VE CONTEMPLATED MANY THINGS.

MY FIRST REACTION WAS FOR THE PART WHEN

JESUS FALLS CARRYING HIS CROSS.

MARY RUNS TO HIM AND AS SHE IS RUNNING SHE

FLASHES BACK TO JESUS AS A YOUNG CHILD.

HE FALLS AND SHE IS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM.

SHE REACHES HIM DOWN ON THE GROUND-

WITH TEARS FALLING SHE SAYS, "MY SON".

I CRIED AND THOUGHT'

"MARY, YOU DO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LOVE

MY SON."

STILL I COULDN'T GRASP THE ACTUAL LESSON

I FELT WAS THERE FOR ME.

I WENT TO AN ALANON MEETING LAST NIGHT

AND WE SPOKE OF DETACHMENT.

THEN THIS MORNING THE LESSON HITS ME.

THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE, THE WHOLE

PROCESS OF HER BABY'S DEATH, MARY IS QUITE

UPSET. HOWEVER SHE NEVER INTERFERES WITH

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HER SON, OUR JESUS.

SHE CRIES SILENTLY BUT NEVER PROTESTS,

NEVER SAYS, " LEAVE MY SON ALONE"

NOT EVEN AS THEY NAIL HER BABY TO A CROSS.

SHE NEVER TRIES TO INTERCEDE.

THE MESSAGE FOR ME HERE?

LET GO AND LET GOD

I HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO DO HIS WORK

WITH RODDIE AND JESI WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

I AM HERE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT THEM, TO LOVE THEM

BUT I MUST ALLOW GOD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN GOD SHOW HIS MIRACLES TO US.

So today, on Roddie's day to celebrate,

remember that those babies do not belong to us.

They are part of a much bigger picture.

To my baby boy:

THERE IS NO BIGGER HERO IN MY LIFE

THAN YOU. TO HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE

YOU CALL ME YOUR MOTHER IS ONE OF THE BEST

GIFTS I WILL EVER RECEIVE.

YOUR SISTER AND YOU ARE THE BEST THINGS

I HAVE EVER ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE.

I AM PROUD OF ALL YOU HAVE DONE NOT JUST IN THE

LAST 6 YEARS BUT ALSO IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

I NOW KNOW THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE THE MAN

YOU ARE TODAY IF YOU HAD NOT GONE THROUGH

THE HARD YEARS THAT LED UP TO SOBRIETY.

GIVE BACK TO THE WORLD AND KNOW

YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU.