Christian Comic Chonda Pierce On Her Late Husband's Alcoholism
October 24, 2024
They say laughter is the best medicine. Perhaps that's why Christian comic Chonda Pierce is in the business of comedy. Chonda has always been candid in her comedy routines. But now she's opening up about her personal life, particularly the struggles she's faced with her husband's fatal addiction to alcohol, in a documentary called “Laughing in the Dark.” Her story is powerful. And the fact that she's come out of her darkest times not just smiling, but laughing, just stands to prove how loving and faithful our God is.
Chonda and David met in high school in Ashland City, Tennessee. David was handsome, smart, played the guitar and was a state champ wrestler. Though he and Chonda started out as friends, but over time, that friendship blossomed into romance.
Christian Comic Chonda Pierce -- Real-Life Love Story
They saw each other through some pretty tough times, as David cared for his divorced father who'd earned the reputation of being the town drunk. Chonda tragically lost two of her sisters in two years -- one in a car crash and the other to leukemia.
[caption id="attachment_26169" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]“We were recovery partners after we found each other,” Chonda said. “I do believe it was a providential thing. We were each other’s soulmates through all that.”
Shortly after college, Chonda and David were married.
Before long, Chonda gave birth to a daughter, then later a son, and they were a family of four. David worked as an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University and other colleges, and Chonda pursued her career as a comedian, becoming popular amongst the church circuit. Their careers were taking off, but all was not well at home.
[caption id="attachment_26170" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Left to right, Chera, Zachary, Chonda and David Credit: Chonda Pierce via The Tennessean[/caption]Over the years, Chonda's daughter, Chera, began to resent her parents. Part of that resentment stemmed from the fact that Chonda's career required her to spend a lot of time on the road. Eventually, Chera got married, had kids and cut off all contact with the family. It was hard on her parents. Chonda dealt with the pain by crying often. She noticed that David started occasionally having a drink or two. . . or so she thought.
RELATED: Is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol?
Chonda Pierce Notices Signs Of A Problem
Then, one night, David came home late. He was stumbling, slurring his words and not making any sense. In a panic, Chonda called for an ambulance, truly believing her husband was having a stroke. But then the paramedics informed her that David was drunk, leaving Chonda shocked and embarrassed. But the embarrassment soon gave way to anger.
[caption id="attachment_26171" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]“I was mad as fire at him. And just so hurt.”
While her husband was away at the hospital, a hurt and stunned Chonda wandered around the house. She eventually wound up in the garage, where she noticed a tarp.
“I pulled at it, and under, it was full of cans and bottles, all empty. I just sat on that garage floor.”
David spent 30 days getting help at a treatment center, and Chonda sold their Murfreesboro home. For her, it held far too many painful memories. She found them a condo in downtown Nashville and focused on moving forward.
[caption id="attachment_26172" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]But a few months later, David was back in rehab.
Continued Struggles
When he got out, the couple celebrated with Chonda's homemade sausage, meatballs and spaghetti by candlelight. Around 9 p.m., David said he missed driving, and headed to the grocery store to pick up food for the dog. But while there, he picked up a case of beer for himself, drinking nine in the parking lot.
Chonda took him right back to rehab the same night. Some of the patients were out on the porch when they arrived, and Chonda overheard one of the younger guys saying, "Man, if David can’t make it, I don’t stand a chance.”
“You’ve got to make it,” she said, looking at the young guy, “because there are people out there who love you, and you’re killing us.”
RELATED: 'God's Not Dead 2' star found God while in Alcoholics Anonymous
Sadly, David never managed to overcome his alcoholism, and his last year was a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Chonda remained by his side, applauding his stretches of sobriety, but staying away when he inevitably went back to the bottle. This difficult time only intensified the estranged relationship Chonda had with her daughter, made even worse when Chonda lost her own mother in the middle of it.
“I look back and sometimes say, ‘Why haven’t I given up?’” she said. “I don’t know if I’m incredibly optimistic, or I have such a strength in faith. Or am I just crazy? I am crazy in love with God. I think he really dwells with us. And I’m crazy enough to believe that.”
David's disease eventually got the better of him.
[caption id="attachment_26174" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]Because of the drinking, David had a stroke in 2013. Brain surgery couldn't save him, and doctors removed him from life support. As always, Chonda was by his side.
Christian Comic Chonda Pierce Opens Up
In their final conversation, David looked at his devoted wife and said, “I messed up, hun.”
[caption id="attachment_26175" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]“He said, ‘I love you’ and he said he was sorry. I said, ‘You have nothing to be sorry about.’ ”
The bravely funny woman has spent the past few years leaning on the Almighty for healing. Chonda says she's now in a good place of peace and resolution, but, as she puts it, "grief is the gift that keeps on giving." A certain song on the radio or a task that needs doing on the farm will remind Chonda of David's absence, stirring up the difficult memories of the battle he fought, but was unable to win.
“Isn’t it a shame the last few years of his life was dealing with [alcoholism] and grieving his daughter. Isn’t it a shame? I know I can’t go back and fix that or change that."
But God is near to the brokenhearted, and it's His grace that comforts Chonda during these times.
“Then what sets in is a great peace to know that he’s at peace. There’s a sweet resolve when you truly believe there’s a heaven.”
What an incredible testimony! Chonda has held on to the God of Mercy through the good times, but also through the times of darkness. And true to His promise, he has brought comfort, and also laughter.
[caption id="attachment_26176" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Credit: chondamovie.com[/caption]"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." Luke 6:21
See some of Chonda's hilarious standup in the video below!
Credit: The Tennessean
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- A Cab Driver Almost Didn't Wait. Then Someone Climbed Into His Backseat Who Changed His Life Forever.
- Top Tips For A Successful Marriage From A Couple Married 87 Years. #14 Is My Favorite!
- How This Girl Was Protected From An Attacker in a Dark Alley Gave Me Chills. WOW!
- Sneaky Photobombing Dogs Have Perfect Timing
- This Christian Couple's Dedication to the Lord is Incredibly Inspiring
- These 10 Unusual Animal Friendships Are Amazing. #5 Just Melted My Heart To Pieces!
- 2 Gorilla Brothers Amazed Everyone With Their Emotions When They Were Reunited
- Orphaned Chimpanzee Gets Adopted By A Family Of Dogs
- A Tribute To A Firefighter Who Died While Saving Others
- Kids Say the Darndest Things. Especially About Marriage!
- Security Guard Loves His Job At Disney World And Spreads Joy
- These Church-Going Kids Are About To Make You Chuckle. So Cute!
- A Toddler Who Is Fighting Cancer Asked for Pizza And Got a Miracle
- Thoughtful Young Man Becomes A Human Chair For An Elderly Lady
- A Pregnant Dog with Half a Face Saved 2 Little Girls from Death. Incredible!
- 2 Friends Went to The Shore to Relax But Ended Up Saving A Lamb's Life
- God Helps a Brave Mother Keep Her Little Children Quiet for 5 Hours To Survive Terrorist Attack
- Nothing Else Could Save This Baby's Life, That's When Her Big Brother Performed a Miracle.
- Churchgoers Ignored the Pleas of A Homeless Man
- 19 Fool-Proof Ways to Turn Any Frown Upside Down
- When His Teacher Learned His Secret, It Brought Her To Tears. And Made Her A Better Person.
- She Feared For Her Life When God Told Her To Pedal. But Then, Her Trust Paid Off. WOW!
- Family Is Being Persecuted For Their Faith
- 10 Grooms' Faces When They First See Their Brides
- This Baby Was Abandoned by His Mother and Called an Ugly Duckling. Then Something Beautiful Happened
- When I Heard What This Woman Did In A Walmart Parking Lot, I Was Stunned.
- 30 Incredible Photos of Children Playing Will Show You What Sheer JOY Looks Like!
- These 6 Couples Didn't Let Storms of Life Ruin Their Wedding Days
- The Willis Family - A Tragic & Inspiring Story
- Veteran Waited On New Wheelchair For 2 Years But Then Lowe's Employees Stepped In
- This Elephant Was Chained And Beaten For 50 Years. But Now He's Free And I'm Not The Only One Crying!
- This Waiter Got The Surprise of A Lifetime from a Complete Stranger. And It Wasn't HIS Birthday!
- You Won't Believe What This 8-Year-Old Did For His Brother. To Him, He's Not Disabled, He's PERFECT!
- This Man Wrote A Letter To The Teacher Who Changed His Life. Just Wait 'Til You Read It!
- A Grieving Dad Begged for Help To Take Away The Pain. How Total Strangers Responded Had Me In Tears!
- These 3 Trees Had Big Dreams, But They Came Crashing Down! This Tale Will Change Your Life!
- Those Who Wrongfully Judged this Fisherman Because of His Appearance Missed Out on a HUGE Blessing!
- 14 Precious Rat Photos That Prove God Doesn't Make Mistakes
- Sweet Giraffe Kisses Dying Zoo Worker Goodbye
- A Father Hadn't Spoken to His Daughter in a Year. But What He Did for Her is a Lesson in Forgiveness
- These Deer Were Trapped In The Icy Waters With No Hope In Sight. Until God Sent Help Just In Time!
- He Was Bullied To His Breaking Point... But God Sent a Friend to Save His Life.
- When She Lost Her Battle With Cancer, They Lost Their Biggest Fan.
- Grieving Parents are Comforted by Wedding Dresses Turned into Angel Gowns for Babies
- This New Marine Gave Her Grandpa A Huge Surprise. And Her First Salute!
- A Soldier in Battle Faced Death. But How God 'Covered' Him and the Entire Army is Truly a MIRACLE!
- Most of Them Were Left Out of Their High School Proms, But Wait Until You See What God Had in Mind!
- What A Room Full Of Balloons Can Teach You About Joy
- He Fought Off A Rapist And Saved A Woman's Life. But He Says He's No Hero!
- Woman Writes Letter to Daughter-In-Law in the Future
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.