Celebrate Recovery And Your Secrets

Last week, we had some children at CR.  I normally don’t work with the kids, but I wanted to let the lovely woman who took them during Large Group get to enjoy Share Group.  Since this was a spur of the moment idea, I told the girls we were going to have Share Group just like the adults, and I let them know it was a serious thing. We were not doing kid stuff, we were doing grown-up stuff.

I explained to them the “rules”, and most importantly, that everyone would get their turn to talk, but no one could be interrupted.  It is very hard for elementary school aged girls NOT to talk out.  Although there were a few impromptu comments, the girls got the hang of it by the middle of group.

First time around, very few people really participated more than maybe a sentence or two. But one person really shared, and so I opened the group up for another round, saying that sometimes someone else will say something that reminds you of something you want to say about your own life.  And from thereon out, it was on.

These girls really shared about their lives and what was going on.  They shared things they normally wouldn’t tell others, and a lot of it broke my heart.  But they took it as seriously as I told them it was.  I was very, very proud of them.

When it was over, I asked these girls who had never shared in a Small Group how they felt about what had happened over the past hour.  They all agreed that it felt good to tell your secrets, and it felt good to know that others were feeling and thinking the same thing as they were. I was so thankful.

That is what Celebrate Recovery will do for you as well. No matter what your age, it will feel good to finally tell your secrets, and find that you are loved and accepted no matter what.  And when you hear others describe feelings that you experience, you don’t feel so alone, or ashamed, or whatever negative experience accompanies your emotions.

So if you are in a Small Share Group, make the most of it.  Don’t hold back and pass.  Tell your secret – let it out, and let it go.  It has held you captive for way too long.  There is freedom when you bring things out of the darkness and into the light – especially because the enemy doesn’t like it in the light, and wants to continue tormenting you in the darkness.  Remember:

1st John 1:7-9

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

See you at Celebrate Recovery!

Penny Haynes