Through Maggie’s youth, she was reminded by her preacher father of The 3 Things: you are part of a family, be true to yourself, and glorify God in all that you do. But as Maggie shares in this transformational book, those old truths take on new meaning in modern life, recovery, and motherhood.
Sometimes, simplicity can untangle the most complicated messes. Even in the darkest pit with the cold hard slab of rock bottom pressed against our face, there is a lifeline of truth, a rope of wisdom, by which we can pull ourselves out. As Maggie Boxey curled into a tight ball of overwhelming shame, addiction, and isolation, she could hear her preacher father’s voice, echoing in her ears. “You are part of a family. Be true to yourself. Glorify God in all that you do.”
It took her 25 hard, traumatic years for her to fully grasp the depth of her father’s words, through her time serving in the Navy, through mental health crises, and through losing custody of her firstborn child due to her addiction.
With the 3 things as her guide, Maggie gathered powerful forces to aid her in her recovery: contemplation, community, celebration, and compassion for herself and others. She relied on her 12-step recovery community to help her get sober and put in the humble work to right the wrongs of her past. She became part of a family again, both chosen and inherited. Her compassionate honesty allowed her to be true to herself.
And she remembered what it means to glorify God in all she did, whether that was taking out the trash, giving birth to her children, or writing a book in service to others, The 3 Things.
Through The 3 Things, Maggie offers listeners a path through contemplation, community, and celebration, in order to find true compassion for ourselves and others.
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“From page one, this book is a strong tether to the world of sanity and serenity. Maggie lets us joyfully celebrate with her the miraculous strength of unalloyed love and care of family, community, and our Higher Power. The 3 Things makes stronger people of us all.”
— The Reverend Ed Bacon, author of The 8 Habits of Love
“Maggie’s book is filled with heart and wisdom and ways to heal. It’s so fully human—it feels like you’re having a cup of tea with a dear friend, reminding us all why faith can look different and still feel the same way for everyone.”
— Jennifer Pastiloff, bestselling author of On Being Human“As a fellow woman in recovery, I have learned my own version of the 3 things but I wish I had Maggie’s book for the journey. Her honesty, humor, and experience are a guide for anyone who is lost—and looking to be found.”
— Emily Paulson, author of Hey Hun and Highlight RealBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Maggie Boxey is the daughter and granddaughter of Episcopal priests, a Navy veteran, and former sixth-grade math teacher, serving children at the middle school in her hometown of Fitzgerald, GA. Her passion for equity in her community has led her to serve on the Board of Directors for Sowega Rising and as an advocacy trainer for Fitzgerald for Change, both Black-led nonprofits for progress in South Georgia. She’s been sober and in recovery for fifteen years. When she’s not parenting, teaching, or being of service, you’ll find her running in the country, cooking, painting watercolor, or vying for the cats’ affection (they prefer her husband). She lives in Fitzgerald with three of her five children, her Marine husband, their three cats, and one dog.