Wine or beer was often served when we visited with neighbors or when they visited with us. On weekends when we invited friends to watch ball games, we served beer and chips. We never drank heavily at these times, but we had one or two drinks.

It is not suprising, therefore, that when life closed in on me, I started drinking more often. I was a registered nurse, and by this time we had four children. My husband was principal of a grade school and a part-time student at the University of Washington graduate school. We were involved in so many school and community activities - there were more dinners, more meetings - until I felt almost overwhelmed. I could not cope with all the demands on my time, so I started drinking in small amounts every afternoon.

At first I had only one glass of wine, usually while preparing dinner. But we often had wine with dinner too. I told myself it was alright, as long as I didn't drink in the early morning or before breakfast. I didn't know how habit-forming any alcoholic drink can be when taken every day!

Slowly one glass of wine before dinner became two, then three. Before I realized it, I was sipping wine from early afternoon until bedtime. As my body adjusted to the amount I consumed, it took more and more to release me from pressure.

Soon I was drinking half a gallon of wine daily. Also there were mixed drinks or martinis and beer in addition to the wine.

After almost four years of drinking it became apparent to me that I could not continue drinking and take care of my house and family.

One morning I awoke with no memory of anything I had done the day before. I simply could not remember! This had never happened before, but the experience was repeated, and it frightened me.

One Saturday night after putting the children to bed, I rushed to the kitchen for a drink. I found the wine bottle empty and became frantic. It was 11:00 pm. The stores were all closed. I remember thinking - what will I do? I just have to have a drink!

Suddenly I realized I was hooked, and I cried out, "My God, my God, I am just living for that next drink!"

After a very restless night I awoke Sunday morning knowing I simply had to face my alcohol problem. What can I do? I asked myself. We can't afford a private hospital. We need all our money for the master's degree. Anyway, it might not cure me. People, at times, continue to drink even after treatment.

We went to church that morning. There was a wonderful sense of peace in the sanctuary. My God, I thought, half praying, how I need peace! As I looked around, I resented the people. They seemed to have such peace, and I had none!

Something deep inside of me seemed to be tearing me apart, and I felt I would fly to pieces if I didn't get a drink soon. Then I remembered a Bible verse that somehow had stayed with me: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. Soon I was praying and telling the Lord all about my problem.

"Lord, I just can't handle this thing by myself." I said. "In fact, I can't handle life by myself." I told Him I wanted to be with my family and to take care of our children.

The sermon ended, but I had not heard a word of it. We stood for the final hymn; and as we were singing, it suddenly looked to me as if everyone in that church had been washed clean. It was so real I blinked my eyes and looked again. I could hardly believe how clean everything looked. It reminded me of the freshness and cleansing that follow a spring shower.

It wasn't clear to me immediately, but actually I was the one who had been cleansed. As we left the church, I realized the thing that had been tearing me apart was no longer there. In its place there was a deep peace. At the same time I knew I didn't need a drink, and I knew I would never again need a drink. God had suddenly - miraculously - taken away all desire for alcohol.

Though my body had been accustomed to drinking over two quarts of wine daily, plus whiskey, gin and beer, I had no withdrawal symptoms. There were no D.T.'s (D. Tremors). I went home from church that day a different person.

Afterward I talked with the pastor. He prayed with me and led me into a full commitment of my life to Christ. I asked Him to forgive my sins and to come into my life as Lord and Savior. I have never been the same since.

Many years have passed since that Sunday when the Lord delivered me from alcohol. I have been invited to weddings, dinners, and other gatherings where alcohol was served but have never been tempted to drink again. I have learned the truth of John 8:36: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

copyright---BY JO WEAVER

My mother was a member of Columbia Basin Grace Ministries in Moses Lake, Washington until her death in a car accident on June 9th 1994. She was active in Women's Aglow, children's Sunday school, Hanford Cleanup, Christian Writer's Conference, and was a correspondence student at Portland Bible College. Her hobbies included porcelain doll making, soapmaking, writing, painting, and her 12 grandkids!

She loved nursing and was an R.N. for over 40 years. She gave many non-paid overtime hours to her patients and she used to take us to the nursing homes to cheer the folks up. And she would bring many a lonely senior home for dinner, especially ones who had no family.

I remember one time she took my sister and me downtown Seattle to the home of two crippled people whom she worked with at the Handicapped Center. They had invited us for dinner. They were a very sweet and happy couple, but I will never forget how bare their apartment was and that they had fixed a "fancy" dinner of roast beef, potatoes and green beans. We brought sherbet for dessert. I never felt poor or deprived ever again after that! My mom loved the outcast and lonely.

I remember when she volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and "wowed" the boys with her huge paper mache dinosaurs!

She was a good mom to us and my best friend and I miss her deeply! Karen Snyder 3-29-98