Opinion

This past week was quite the adventure. Most will have had the same experience as those around them this past week. Some will have had it worse and some will have had it better, all depending on location and the amount of electricity they had and the duration in which they have had it.

The majority of my life I battled with addiction. I had an addictive personality, whether it was with drugs, overeating, video games and even online shopping. It was so easy for me to go overboard. Caught in this struggle with addiction, I fought with feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness and pain. I chased after my addictions hoping that they would alleviate the emptiness I felt inside. For years I had placed my faith in myself, believing that I could overcome these addictions on my own. Oftentimes in the past I would make empty promises to a God, I’m not sure I even believed in at the time, stating, “Just one more time, then I promise I’m done.” Then when opportunity for more came knocking, I used my pain as an excuse to break those promises. It was a downward spiral and the enemy had me believing so many lies. But now, with Christ, I learned how to love myself again despite my past. I took that Faith that I had in myself and exchanged it for Faith in Him. I learned how to look in the mirror with a smile on my face eager for what the future holds. I don’t need drugs to get through my struggles anymore and I can now face my problems with peace knowing that in everything, God is there with me.

Recently, I came across a remarkable story about a man named Codey McElroy. He grew up in a town called Frederick, Oklahoma. It is a town that I am very familiar with because it is only 25 minutes away from where my family lives. McElroy played baseball and basketball in high school in Chattanooga, Oklahoma - only a few minutes away from Frederick.