Nancy Efird

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” - Psalm 56:3

… A true story!

The days and nights ran together – Would it be alcohol or drugs this time? Do we have the money for the next fix? Our families kept checking on us, saying that if we didn’t get help, they would take our baby girl. We moved to a larger city, hoping to get away from the agony of addiction, but that scourge is everywhere. Finally, our parents, all four of them, told us that they were letting go. We had talked about this day but not paid much attention to the threat:

1. The locks would be changed on all outside doors of our house (and they were).

2. The house would be sold immediately (and it was).

3. There would be no help of any kind (and there wasn’t). And last of all,

4. We could have no contact with our child while our circumstances stayed as they were.

We were given only one hour before we had to leave the house; we could not come back.

Five years later…

1. We went through five long years of intense recovery and will always be recovering.

2. We attend sessions which we call “meetings” at least once a week. (Good group therapy. It helps to hear about someone else’s troubles.)

3. We are mentors for those who are new to the program.

4. We both have jobs that allow our little girls to have “mommy and daddy time.”

5. Yes! Mommy and daddy time. We have been blessed to have another baby girl join our family.

6. We have bought our own house and made it a home where God lives.

7. We have found that our lives are free from so much worry.

8. We attend church regularly and are happy to share our story with anyone who asks.

When asked, “What changed?” our answer is clear. We hit the bottom and found God, our Emmanuel who is with us always.

On January 1, 2026, we will celebrate five years clean.

- Nancy Efird

It has been my privilege to observe this young couple growing in faith and maturity. So happy we’re family. They have given me permission to share their story.