Gratitude

I saw this photo and I realized how lucky I am not to be drinking today. This was exactly like my dad only he was not as skinny. My dad would walk around the house with his loaded .357 pistol. I guess he would do it to intimidate us. After all the threats he made, we believed that one day he would kill us. He is still drinking and soon will die of alcoholism. When I was drinking I saw my dad when I looked in the mirror and could do nothing. Today I look in the mirror and see a man I am trying to get to know. I see a father who loves his wife and kids. Someone who is working the program of alcoholics anonymous, but if one day I stop going to meetings, working the steps and calling other alcoholics I will end up being my father.