The presents were all opened with a few moments of glee…
And then the children remembered how daddy had fallen into the Christmas tree.
The children watched in fear as their father continued to drink…
Could someone save them? What would the neighbors think?
How could daddy have times when he was loving and kind…
And then start acting as if he lost his mind?
I, in my new baseball cap, and my sister in jeans,
Looked to our big brother asking, “What does it mean?”
Does he love us just part of the time…
Or does he only love vodka and tonic with a lime?
As the children stared at their slumbering father some more,
A stranger knocked at the front door.
Their dad staggered to the door to talk to the man…
And then whispered to mother, “Take the children into the bedroom if you can.”
The children heard their dad tell the man, “I’ve been such a bozo”…
And then he asked the man, “Where are you from again?”
The stranger just smiled and said, “Sozo.”
Daddy went away for a while the very next day.
Mommy took us later to visit him… when my big brother saw him he said, “No way!”
Daddy was kind and loving again and praised God for showing him this place…
And as we drove out of sight, I noticed a piece of stationery that read,
“Healing addiction through God’s love.”
I don’t know a lot about addiction,
But I know that this could not have happened without grace from above.
That was some time ago. I’m a teenager now,
And my family couldn’t be happier.
Dad is no longer a bozo,
And I’ll always be grateful for that stranger at the door from Sozo.
If you, or someone you love is facing a drinking problem this New Year’s Eve,
Please listen to a little kid’s advice:
“Don’t be a bozo… call Sozo… 501-984-5317.”