Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine. This post contains my affiliate link.

 The book tour for Praying for Your Addicted Loved One came at a perfect time in my life.  My dad, who is an alcoholic drug addict, resurfaced after almost 20 years of being gone.  Honestly, we didn’t even know if he was still alive because we hadn’t heard anything about him for nearly 18 years.  During that 18 years a lot has happened in my life.  I’ve graduated from college, gotten married, had two children, and suffer from a serious disease.  There’s enough on my plate at this point.  When the drama with my dad started back up again, I wanted to hide under a rock.   From the limited conversations we’ve had with him since he announced his return to the real world, it’s apparent that things haven’t changed much in his lifestyle over the 18 years he’s been gone.  My father still blames his children for his need to disappear, since he was in danger of being imprisoned for neglect and drug abuse.  Who does that?!  Who blames a 33 year old child for being expected to be fed and clothed when he was 14 years old?!    We’re glad to know that he’s okay and well enough to make contact.  Still, the old wounds are there even though the scars still hurt.

Cosby’s book struck a cord with me although I didn’t always agree with what she suggested.  In some parts of the book, she claims that we should hold the addicted loved one responsible for his/her actions. Then on another page, she claims that her addicted loved one made the wrong choice, but didn’t actually choose wrong over right.  I disagree with that.  Regardless of the reason why the “wrong” choice was made, it was still made.  Drug addiction doesn’t absolve someone from responsibility or accountability.  Perhaps I’m just not at the point in my life that I can fully set aside the aftermath of drug addiction.  It infuriates me that someone can make a choice that causes everyone around them to suffer, yet the drug addict is excused because they are suffering from a disease.  This is not a disease like Alzheimer’s or cancer that strikes without warning. The addict makes the choice to partake in drug consumption.   Somehow this suggests that my brother and I should have understood when we were younger that although there wasn’t food in the fridge, only beer, it was my dad’s addiction that made that okay.  I can’t find solace in that.  At this point in my life, I can see what she’s saying.  I just don’t agree with it.   Perhaps this book might be a salve for my wounds at some point. Just not yet.  Other parts of the devotional encourage the reader to replace scripture with their loved one’s name and vices.  This really does help to put things in perspective.

If you’re considering reading this book, I suggest that you purchase the paperback version so that you can go through the healing process of writing.  For me, that’s very helpful.  It’s also beneficial to go back over the course of the 90 days to see how far you’ve come in your prayers.