Tuesday, July 2, 2024
The road to recovery from addiction is a difficult and often painful process. Through a series of “freedom walks,” Tina Graves hopes to encourage others that recovery is possible and that they are not alone.
“I have always had compassion, (and) my heart has always been open to help other people in recovery,” Graves said. “I want people to know that God can do it.”
Graves, a group leader at Righteous Roots, held the first walk on Saturday, June 8. She walked along Main Street passing out fliers for support groups and holding signs with encouraging messages for those recovering or seeking to recover from an addiction.
Having experienced her own journey in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, Graves strives to inspire others not to be ashamed of their story.
“I broke down and got emotional during the walk, because when I saw how people were honking, people were stopping, or telling me how they got five years clean, I got really emotional because that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
Although the walk only included Graves and another group leader from Righteous Roots, the community response encouraged Graves to plan more walks in the future. She hopes to host a freedom walk at least twice a month.
“It was amazing how many people would just stop and roll their windows down at the stop lights and wanted to tell their testimony right there at the light,” Graves said.
Graves leads the women’s Life Recovery Group at Righteous Roots on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. She emphasizes the importance of finding support when one goes through the recovery process.
“It’s crucial for people to know that other people love them and that they feel loved,” she said. “It’s confidential, and the women bond in the group. We have a lot of women who have built friendships that have come into the group. It’s just women empowering women, and we need more of that.”
Righteous Roots also provides a men’s Addiction Support Group that takes place on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., she adds.
“The importance of group is that we have people come in and they hear stories of hope and encouragement, and they hear that there is hope in recovery and that people do recover,” she said. “It’s a Christian-based program, so we put a lot of emphasis on the Lord.”
For those interested in joining a future freedom walk or a support group at Righteous Roots, call the organization at 254-651-3600 or visit righteousroots.org
“Even if they do not have sobriety, they can walk – this is a freedom walk,” Graves said. “You’re walking for the freedom that God gave you from the drugs and you’re also walking for the freedom that He will give you.”
