continued from page guys love ….
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guys love you, and you have a great attitude. Your sense of humor is great, and I appreciate you being a part of our group and this organization. The sky is the limit, you have a great new opportunity ahead of you, and I think you will do great things.”
Doenges then addressed the crowd, saying, “Man, it’s been a journey. I remember when Jimbo picked me up from the Bass Pro Shop in Macon. I didn’t know if I would ever make it to where he was. I was a broken, broken man, and this program and journey has really changed my life. I am so grateful for all you guys. It’s been great to experience the brotherhood, the projects, and more. I promise I learned a lot. I’ve changed as I’ve worked through the steps – I’ve learned that I can control the way I think and the way I feel, and the opportunities and doors that have opened – life just keeps getting better and better. I’m so grateful for this process. It’s awesome, and I love you guys.”
Doenges’s father also spoke on the occasion, as he remarked, “I want to thank everybody at Forge for all the hard work that you do in helping him become who he is. He’s been through some crap, but he made it and I’m proud of him.”
Raymond Thompson
George described Thompson as being passionate, determined, and intelligent. “It has been stated tonight that you may have come the farthest of any individual we have ever seen at Forge and I attest to that – I agree. You are not the same person that I met, and I value you today,” the leader emphasized.
George explained, “You guide me, whether you know it or not, and you have taught me a lot. You spent time with me and helped me in so many different ways. You are gifted and talented in a lot of areas that I am not, and you have shared with me in that way, and I am very appreciative. You are the undisputed champion of the addict great debate, so I expect you to come back and see if you can hold on to that title each year until someone takes it from you. I’m super proud of you, I love you, and I’m looking forward to working with you in the future.”
Thompson began, “Today, God’s done for me what I could not do for myself. I have been to a lot of recovery meetings in the last two years – I’ve seen a lot of organizations in the last two years similar to Forge. One thing I can say that is different about this program is the unity in this program. Unity is the exact opposite of addiction. In this program, we go to meetings together – in other programs, people walk into meetings sulking; Forge guys walk in hanging out and hugging each other. This program has a unity like I had never seen in any program.”
He went on to share his gratitude to all in the program before his twin brother also addressed the crowd. “This is the best I have ever seen Raymond,” Thompson’s brother told the audience. “I am so grateful to you all for all that you do.”
The ceremony closed as all attendees gathered on stage for the traditional graduation picture, as the leaders emphasized that Vidalia and Toombs County is a community that supports recovery.
