He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother

Today my brother Edward Swain​  leaves the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, WV where he has been participating in their intensive inpatient addiction recovery program for over five months.  There have been so many amazing things that have happened during this time that I hope to write about on my blog www.donnakbarkley.blogspot.com soon.

But, for right now - i just wanted to thank God for his provision and offer a blessing to the men and women who have served our country and for all those who fight addiction on a daily basis.  Many people fight addiction losing the battle for their entire life.  They restart and fight and fight hard, but Addiction is a beast.  People who fail to addiction are not weak they are sick.  It is a disease it is the ugliest.  Trust me no one wants to be an addict.

Addiction has stolen many things from me personally, my parents, my other sweet brother Tommy our extended families, my son, his friends and other friends.  It is to be feared.  It is to be respected, because just when you think you have it beat the dang devil finds yet a new way to make it look so appealing and the disease makes it nearly impossible to beat.

I have every confidence that Eddie's journey is moving forward without drugs or alcohol being a part of it.

Well, you might say it's about time, but God's timing is always perfect!!

Don't get me wrong Eddie has a lot of work to do, HARD WORK

in his own life

his marriage

our family

but I know the healing God has brought to Eddie's heart and spirit along with his body

and I'm so excited to watch this restoration in my family continue!

As I am being healed from Cancer, God is healing so much more in my world.  He is taking what Satan intended for evil and making it good and for that I am grateful beyond words.

God bless you big brother, God bless you!

Jeremiah 30:17, ESV For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…

Isaiah 61:7, ESV Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.

Joel 2:25-26, ESV I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Job 42:10, ESV And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Isaiah 1:18, ESV Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.