We up here just lost a wonderful woman. She had recently celebrated her 41st year in sobriety and her contributions to so many was vast. I went to her viewing this afternoon and the lines were way out into the parking lot, when I went in and, when I came out.they were longer. Obviously Lee was well loved.
Lee had a very strong voice, despite her frailness in these past weeks. She was one of those members, who didn’t mince words, when talking about the program. I loved her messages. She always reminded us not to spend time in the past, but to always remember our last drink. She never coddled people, especially those she sponsored. She said she was never coddled by her sponsor. In fact, when her sponsor was dying, she called Lee to her bedside. She told Lee that it was important that she get another sponsor as quickly as she could. She instructed her as to the kind of sponsor she was to get. She told her to make sure the sponsor had common sense, because she said Lee herself didn’t have any. Talk about a parting shot and no coddling.
But the moment about Lee that I remember, was one night at a meeting several years back. The topic of the meeting was the God of our understanding. Lee sat on the side facing the members in the center of the room. I sat right in front of her, when she spoke. Lee, for what it’s worth was a Native American. When she spoke, she had that manner of speech which was so poetic in its phrasing. I’ve thought about that night a number of times and have a hard time trying to remember what it was that she said and have decided it wasn’t all that important. What was important was the force which underlay her words. I can still remember those moments. Her speech was quiet and had a profound effect on me. I try to keep that moment with me.
That’s what I was thinking about when I came back home this afternoon. Keeping. Keeping what? I’ve known so many wonderful people, who have gone on to their reward. My sponsor and many other old timers. What they all gave me I keep deep within me. I know that we are supposed to give it away, but I always want to be sure I have it before I give it to others. I sure don’t want to lose what I have been given. Nor do I want to keep it to myself. All I want to do is to remember what I have been given so freely. It’s what has so enriched my sobriety and I hope the sobriety of those I meet and share what I have kept to pass on to others, when it’s the time.
I am not here to get time and keep it for the admiration of others. But I get time, because of what I have kept. And what I have kept I have given to others, which adds another day, when each day comes to me. I pray that we all do that, because what you all have to give me and have given to me I have, also, kept. And that has helped to keep me sober.