On January 12, 1971, All in the Family began a nine-year run, finishing the season as television’s top-rated show for six consecutive years. The show featured the Bunker family, which was both hilarious and dysfunctional. Perhaps the reason so many of us watched was because we came from dysfunctional families, as well.
I love what George Burns said about family: “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”
Perhaps your family contributed to your propensity for addiction. On some level, they almost certainly did. But remember, that is an explanation, not an excuse. You need to do two things:
- Own your own behavior.
- Honor your family, perfect or not.
Recovery Step: One of the ten commandments says, “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). Honoring your family is not always easy, but it is always necessary.
