After all those years of searching for a solution to my drinking problem, I found it through the first three Steps of this program. At the time I had no idea what those were. It wasn’t until I came to this program five days later that I learned what they were. The results were immediate. The desire, the compulsion, the obsessive thoughts about a drink, the craving were gone and really have never returned, with one exception early on.
I was thinking about this today, after the group welcomed a new person into the program this noon.
I want to keep those memories of my last day drinking and my finding this program fresh in my mind. Always. I was told to never forget, because I just might end up condemned to repeat my drinking experiences. My remembrance is out of gratitude. Gratitude to God, the program, and all those many people, who have contributed so much to my sobriety.
What words can ever express my thanks for this gift of sobriety? I can only repeat the words of one old timer: AA is the best thing that ever happened in my life. Or, as another man always said: It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of AA. Every night I try to remember to say a prayer of thanks to God, as I understand him, for this gift.
When I think of how once I was threatened with a drink and the immediate response to my prayer asking for help to relieve me of my craving. It came and the compulsion was gone. It only happened that one time, after I had been in this program about a year or so. And it never has returned. Who wouldn’t be grateful?
That was the message I thought of, while others were greeting this new person. To me it is always a thought of hope. Hope that this could happen to someone else just like me. The hope that came to me, when I found this program. A hope that was realized and became a matter of faith that lives on within me today, because this program works. Thank God it does. And thanks to all those, who have been faithful to the Traditions and kept this program going and open for all those who need it, like myself.
Anyway, I was thinking about this today.