Sharron Cosby - Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90

In Praise of Praying for Your Addict

What follows in these pages resonates with me, both organizationally and personally. For in these pages is something which originates neither in the cloister nor the laboratory, but rather in the crucible of human experience. While what comes out of either can inform and inspire, too often it may be detached from life in the world. In Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 , author Sharron Cosby writes from personal experience, with all of its blood, sweat, toil, and tears.

~Commissioner William A. Roberts, National Commander of The Salvation Army (excerpt from Foreword to Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 ).

Transparent, hopeful, and honest, Sharron Cosby writes with the quiet eloquence of a tried and tested warrior in the battlefield of addiction and compulsive behaviors. So often the process of recovery is placed solely on the shoulders of the addict. This devotional invites all the stakeholders to share in the suffering. As a clinician and counselor who has worked with addicts and their loved ones, I recommend Praying For Your Addicted Loved One as a must-have companion for all family members who find themselves in the desert of addiction.

~Peter J. Dell LCSW, Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

I love this book! Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 is truly a God-send, not only for those living day-to-day with loved ones chained to addictions, but for those, like me, who need guidance in understanding the needs of neighbors and relatives struggling with relentless addictions. Sharron Cosbys insights and personal experiences lend heart and credibility to each brief, reader-friendly devotional, and she squeezes much meaning, hope, and application from each scripture.

~Debora M. Coty, award-winning author of 13 inspirational books, including Too Blessed to be Stressed and More Beauty, Less Beast, Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate.

DO NOT read another book, article, or advice column on coping with the addiction of someone you love until you have read this! Author Sharron Cosby gets it. After much pain, heartache, and frustration, she gets it. And you can too. As one who has also suffered through addiction issues in my life and with my own family, I can tell you that Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 will change your perspective about this issue once and for all.

~Dr. Michael Hailey, Pastor, New Day Church, Brandon, FL.

Sharron Cosby has the loving heart of a true Southern belle, and she opens that heart willingly, sharing her personal experiences as the parent of an addict. Drawing from the book of Jeremiah, Sharrons devotional uses scripture to provide hope and sound guidance in what can seem like a hopeless situation.

~Kat Heckenback, author of Finding Angel, Seeking Unseen, and multiple contributions to Chicken Soup for the Soul , anthologies, magazines, e-zines and artist.

Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 is an education in divesting the bondage of addictive behaviors and substance abuse. The 90 devotions with soul-searching reflections, questions, and prayers, help us understand the reality and heartaches of both the addicted and those who love them.

~Ruth Carmichael Ellinger, award-winning author of five books including The Wildrose Trilogy and Women of the Secret Place .

The journey from a mothers despair to the kept promises of God comes through in each devotion. Readers will relate to Sharrons sojourn even if they are on a different path. They will find hope, encouragement, and inspiration no matter their circumstances.

~Lt. Colonel Martha Jewett, Divisional Director of Womens Ministries, The Salvation Army Florida Division.

Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90

Copyright 2013 by Sharron K. Cosby. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition: June 2013

ISBN 13: 978-1-62480-071-9

ISBN 10: 1-62480-071-8

Published by BookJolt, LLC, PO Box 1619, Auburn, WA 98071.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERVATIONAL VERSION NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment of the original purchaser only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

To my three children whose lives embody Gods grace and redemption.

To troubled familiesmay you grab hold of Gods promises for your loved onesand not let go.

Acknowledgments

Burdens carried with a friend grow lighter and more tolerable, and I want to say thank you to those who lightened my load through the years.

I have three friends from work who listened to my tales of woe for days on end, held me as I sobbed, and prayed many prayers as I struggled with the chaos of my sons addiction. Debbie, Carolyn, and Paula, you hold a special place in my heart. You loved me through some of the worst years of my life.

I owe many thanks to my fellow critique buddies in Word Weavers of Tampa. You cleaned up my words and helped build my confidence as a writer. I knew my words were hitting their mark when you cried reading the stories aloud. Jan Powell, Kat Heckenbach, Kim Moore, and Kathryn Howard, thank you so much for cheering me on when I sometimes wanted to quit.

I also want to thank my editor, Adele Brinkley, for believing in the power of the story and for further polishing my words.

My precious ones, Caron, Josh, and Katie, without whom there is no story, thank you for allowing me to share our pain as an offering of hope, encouragement, and strength to other families experiencing similar struggles. I am proud of your accomplishments and am thankful God chose me to be your mother and now your friend. I love you more than words can express and each of you is my true favorite.

Without the constant love and support of my husband, Danny, I dont think I could have fared as well as I did. He was, and is, my safe place to run when the storms of life came my way. Our life isnt exactly the way I imagined it would be, but it has been an unforgettable journey of love and grace.

My grandchildren, Kody, Caleb, Mason, Cayden, and Caitlyn are the absolute joys of my life. When the drama of our lives reached its worst you were thankfully too young to recognize it. My prayer is that your life choices will steer you far away from the hurt and pain our family lived through.

To my mother, Tish Mills Knight, I owe my love of stringing words together. You instilled in me an insatiable hunger for books. But more importantly, you taught me to love in the toughest of circumstances and to trust God in all things. Thank you for believing in me.