Daily
Reflections reading December 13th
Thinking Of Others
Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
Thinking
of others has never come easily to me. Even when I try to work the A.A.
program, I’m prone to thinking, “How do I feel today. Am I happy, joyous and
free?” The program tells me that my thoughts must reach out to those around me:
“Would that newcomer welcome someone to talk to?” “That person looks a little
unhappy today, maybe I could cheer him up.” It is only when I forget my
problems, and reach out to contribute something to others that I can begin to
attain the serenity and God-consciousness I seek.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My thoughts on December 13th Reading
Thinking of others the first thing that come to my mind is
all the times before recovery I never thought of anyone but myself and my self-centered
attitude toward anyone who dared get in the way of my drinking I was the great
I am that never was
Today I have to think of the people in my life before I put
myself first again my friends and family need a responsible person not the jerk
I was in the past giving them crap about everything today I have the love and
respect of them because the program gave me a new way to live
Trying to help another in recovery is what its all about
time in program does not matter even if you have only a few days the person
coming thru the door need to feel welcomed reach out and welcome them and let
them know you have been were they are now
Sharing our experience strength and hope is what recovery is
about, this is unity I believe we are all equal in recovery, nobody is more
important than another we all need each other, the newest of the new comer, to
the oldest of the old timer, equals
I learned when I give unconditional love I always get it
back, its hard to not receive the love back maybe not from those who I give it
to, but God does return to anyone giving, trying to help others
Living by His will I always get as good as I give, working
with others improves my own character
I seek others that had the things God wants me to have, it's
all about making new friends sitting and listening to others watching their
actions I knew who to seek out to help me many in here are looking for the same
things I was given when I first walked into the halls
I also learn from all of you, remembering what it was like
before I learned how to trust these
meetings were but a beginning of a new way of life, trusting my HP's wisdom
knowing I cannot keep this fellowship unless I give it away each and every day
Reaching out to the one who still suffers I have receive 10
fold back for me efforts when someone slips I learned, patience, tolerance, and
understanding of my own disease with this new knowledge I grew in the
fellowship and my own life is always enriched
Working with a newcomer I have found the very first Question
they ask is how can they stop well I really do not have an answer for that
question because I am not this person, all I can do is share my own experience
with him on what I did to put down the drink, to never have to pick it up again
by accepting I have a problem and needed guidance
For me it was a spiritual awakening the finding of a power
greater than myself who I chose to call God today, but when I got to the halls
of AA my higher power was a group of drunks, when I share my experience with an
agnostic or atheist I tell them its ok not to agree with my concept of a God
They can choose any thing that makes sense to them, the main
thing is to be willing to believe in a Power greater than themselves and they
try to live by a set of principles as explained in the 12 steps I tell them
about how I only knew the vengeful and condemning God
Of my family’s religious belief and I kicked that God out of
my life years ago when I got my sponsor he told me straight out that anyone can
stop the hurt and pain of the day but to change your life around you need a
power greater than yourself
My first thought was I am now hopelessly lost I did not want
this vengeful God in my life he said why don't you try our God the one of
compassion hope love forgiveness, you don't have far to go to met this
wonderful God he is right in your heart
But I like so many of us I was to closed minded to see that
right then but I did come to believe in Him later I tell them it’s a program of
action and the process starts with step one surrendering to the disease
admitting and accepting you are an alcoholic and can’t drink in safety
When I share how the 12 steps saved my life and that I found
aa is the only way I was going to stay sober I talk about the big fourth step
where I got to know myself, how I had to straightened out my past making amends
along the way for all the crap
I pulled when I was drinking and thinking only of myself One
of the most important things I can tell anyone is they need to get to meetings
and learn how to listen to identify with others and not try to compare their
life to another
We all have a lot of things in common and that is where we
have to look at what things in common will help us better understand ourselves
Bottom line is it costs nothing to reach out and talk to someone who is trying
to find himself after all I do remember when I was walking in his shoes
God Bless you Al M
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