Nine Months

Hey Partners & Friends,

Nine months, typically is the time it takes between conception and delivery of a human child. That’s how long it takes. I find this a bit ironic when it comes to Celebrate Recovery and the recovery process. And make no mistake recovery is a process, it’s a journey, somewhat like the birthing of a child, a new life. Many times I have been asked by newcomers who visit CR. “How long does it take to go through the 12 Steps, twelve weeks?” It’s a logical question, assuming it takes a step a week to complete all twelve. Boy are they surprised when I answer.   

Sometime back I was talking to a professional addiction counselor. He had vast experience working with people who struggle with all sorts of addictions, drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, you name it. He had worked at teen-challenge, in-house rehabs, half-way houses, short-term care facilities, outpatient care etc. We were discussing the general success or failure rate statistics associated with the various types of treatments and programs. He told me that it has been statistically verified that short-term treatment produces very little long-term recovery. However if a person engages in the recovery process for at least nine months to a year the success rate is dramatically improved.  

Experts say it takes generally nine months to a year to break free from destructive habit patterns and addictions. It is not instant.

This was very exciting to me because the CR 12 step process typically takes 9-12 months to complete. They are extremely successful for those who complete the whole process. We didn’t plan it that way, that’s just the way it is working out. Coincidence? I don’t think so, even with God good things need time to grow, mature and become a reality in your life. Complete recovery takes time to develop like a newly conceived child.

Nine months for a child to be born, nine months to a renewed life. New life is conceived in an instant but it is lived one day at a time,,,for the rest of eternity.

2Cor 5:17 NIRV When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here!

Thanks for doing this new life with us.

Jim & Pam