A Parent’s Love

Happy February, Everyone!!

In honor of Valentine’s day and the “love month”, all my posts this month will center around the subject of LOVE.

Today I will start with the most precious love of all, a parent’s love. If you are a parent, you know that there’s nothing like it. It’s a deep, indescribable love that is everlasting no matter what. When I read the post I am about to share, it touched my heart deeply and I thought it might touch yours as well. The post was written by Michael Blanchard, author, photographer, business owner and a recovering alcoholic. I first came to know about Michael from his award-winning photography books. Michael and I both won the prestigious 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin book award in different categories. His first book, “Through a Sober Lens” – a photographer’s journey, won the Gold Medal for Interior Book Design and Most Inspirational Book. In 2021, he won the Gold in the Art & Photography category for his second book, “Fighting for My Life” – Finding hope and serenity on Martha’s Vineyard. His photography is so beautiful that I fell in love with both books and his story behind the photos. I have been following him on social media ever since.

A few weeks back he had posted this gorgeous photo with a message to parents who have lost their children due to some form of addiction and carry the burden of, “Did I do the right thing or enough?”.

I hope it will touch your heart as much as it did mine, or more. If you know someone who could benefit from his words, please share! You never know who may need this. Addiction does not discriminate, it infiltrates the best of families, the wealthy, the poor and everything in between. Many times, the families suffer in silence in fear that someone will think differently of them if they knew their son, daughter or other family member was addicted. I know, because I am one of those parents. So please share, you never know who needs this today. 🥰

Repost from Michael Blanchard @michaelblanchardmv:

I never know if I say the right thing but I speak from the heart.

I had 3 sets of parents in the gallery yesterday that have lost children to addiction. All carried a burden of wondering if they could have done more to prevent it from happening. I hate seeing people living with a lifetime burden of self-doubt.

I know in my heart the disease of addiction dwarfs any decisions a family made or didn’t make. If addicts and alcoholics could reach from the grave, they would tell their loved ones that they (the afflicted) had the responsibility. While the family is absorbed in trying to make the right next move, the addict is searching for the next drug or drink, and perceives the family stuff as “noise” that needs to be managed.

As I was walking with Brodie this morning I turned around and saw this beautiful site. It is my gift to those who are burdened with self-doubt. I wish this for you. And as Gibran says so accurately:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls’ dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

Have a great Sunday! Peace

~~~~

To learn more about Michael Blanchard:
Website: https://www.blanchardphotomv.com/
Facebook: @blanchardphoto
Instragram:@michaelblanchardmv

You can also follow his monthly column in Recovery Today Magazine. This is a no-cost subscription magazine that is filled with hope. A good magazine not just for those that are dealing with or recovering from drug and alcohol addiction but for those that love them as well.