Annie Reed, of Monett, first told her story of recovery 2 years ago on Aug. 25, 2021.

She represented the eighth step in the Celebrate Recovery process, which is to make amends.

Reed is 12 years sober from methamphetamine and 4 years sober from alcohol, and 2 years ago, she also quit smoking.

The first time she used meth she was 13 or 14 years old; this was after she was left in Honduras for 5 years. Over the years and through the 12-step process, Reed has learned about her triggers and her childhood trauma, and how that affected her, like the abandonment she felt.

After her grandmother in Honduras died, and she came to the United States, where she was molested. She was the shuffled between her parents in Missouri and Texas.

At 19, she had her first son, and so started her journey through love and heartbreak.

She experienced abusive relationships and drug use, and by the time her second son was born, she was surrounded by a lifestyle of drug houses and dealing permeating every corner of her life.

By 26, she was attending church and Celebrate Recovery meetings, and she got sober. But, she eventually used again. Reed had three sons and moved in with her mother to keep custody. She entered another relationship, having a fourth child, but once she recognized abusive behavior, she managed to get herself out.

“When you don’t deal with your past you end up dating the same guy with different faces,” she said two years ago. “I realized that if I didn’t get clean I would start to lose everything again, so the next day, Jan. 8, 2011, I went back to Celebrate Recovery.”

Today, Reed said she has learned to love herself through Christ.

“I had to completely heal and let God take over every part of my being so that I wouldn’t repeat those cycles,” she said. “It is about knowing who you are in Christ and knowing that you wont settle for anything less.

“You attract what you are, whether you are broken or healed.”

Reed said she is truly blessed she can share her testimony to so many.

“God is good,” she said. “I pray that it helps somebody. If he can do it for me, he can do it for you.

“He took this broken person that I was and made me whole.”

Reed said her advice is to stop being lukewarm and run to God.

Reed is a board member at her church, a part of Ignite the Fire and Women Arise, Narcan Outreach, a pregnancy program in Aurora, and she goes to the jail to speak to other women there.

The two quotes that she uses in her testimony are Ephesians 2:10 and Jeremiah 29:11.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

MEETING SCHEDULE

To add or update any meetings, people may call Mark Barton at 417-7665449.

Tuesday

• Celebrate Recovery Cassville at the First Baptist Church in the loft. Meal is served at 5:45 p.m. and large group is at 6:30 p.m., childcare is provided nursery to 6th grade. People may contact Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Wednesday

• Shell Knob – Celebrate Recovery at the Viola Victory Church at 29604 State Hwy., 39. Meal starts at 5 p.m., meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Childcare is provided For more information call Jessica at 417239-9001.

• Seligman Celebrate Recovery at Mozark Fellowship at 28277 Frisco Street in Seligman. Meal is at 6 p.m. and meeting starts at 70 p.m. For more information call Loni at 417-827-2737.

• AA meeting, noon to 1 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Thursday

• Monett Celebrate Recovery 6-9 p.m. at the New Site Baptist Church at 1925 Farm Road 1060 in Monett. Meal at 6 p.m. Childcare and nursery up to 5th grade. The Landing for 6th to 12th grade. For more information, people can reach Allan at 417-4616802.

• AA meeting, 8-9 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Friday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Sarah at 417-8467045. Saturday

• SMART meetings from 10-11 a.m. at 208 West 8th Street in Cassville. Alliance counseling. For more information people may call Loni at 417-827-2737.

Sunday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Mike at 417-8467866.