“She’s been here many, many times…”whispered a female arresting officer in dark blue uniform.
“I think she goes through alcohol withdrawals, too.”
I glanced at an alcohol-reeking woman, sitting on the cold cement bench on the female side of Intake. Her head slumped on her chest. There was no tremor but she was so drowsy, it was hard for her to follow any commands.
“Ms. Johnson!” “Wake up!” I shook her left shoulder as I needed her to straighten her left arm for me to start taking her blood pressure.
“How much alcohol did you have tonight?”
“Ms. Johnson! Wake up!!!”
She barely opened her eyes. The lids looking heavy as if it had a ton weight on each.
“One…”she softly murmured.
“One what?” “Ms. Johnson, c’mon!”
“One…”
Her vital signs were normal. I didn’t see any tremors. I had her get up and made her walk a few steps to see if she could walk on her own. She did, still with her eyes closed…
I signed her health screen form and the cop was happy that I had admitted her to be booked.
“She’ll wake up soon…in a few hours…”
And once released…there was always that big chance of seeing her back. She was entangled with a bad habit. How could she wake up when a few drinks would make her want to go for more. Day after day…Night after night…
“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” – Ephesians 5:10-14 [LAB]
“So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” – Ephesians 5:15-18 [LAB]
-emphasis is mine
