As always at meetings, where the group is fairly faithful, going to meetings on a regular basis is often talked about. A lot learned what I learned. That I cannot stay sober on my own.
That message was passed on to me by my old sponsor. He was faithful to going to meetings and helping others. I would watch him all the time. He was my model in here.
On the other hand I would be aware of people coming in and getting sober, going to meetings on a regular basis, staying sober…and then one day feeling satisfied with their sobriety would wander off and not come to meetings anymore. Convinced they would stay sober by themselves. And then begin to slide downhill and eventually a lot of them went back out. And a lot of disaster.
Some of them would try to get back, but some couldn’t stay. They were owned by alcohol. And more disaster.
These examples helped reinforce my commitment to this program and the people in it. Like my sponsor pointed out to me that by going to meetings I would be refreshed in what this program was about and how much help I would receive by coming here.
It’s amazing to me, because I have received so much in this program. The first and most wonderful gift was freedom from the slavery to alcohol, which was driving me into insanity and suicide. Never want to forget that gift from my Higher Power. Like the Ninth Step promises said, a new freedom and a new happiness. I never want to give that up. I am so grateful.
And then there are other things, like that restoration to sanity, which I received. That’s where I was stopped fighting everyone, and everything, including alcohol. I never forget that moment, when I received that gift, while making amends.
There are the other promises and much more in here, which has turned my life around. I never want to give any of that up. But it’s more than just what was given to me. It’s what I am able to give to others. Like my sponsor, I can give others what he gave to me. Not just the Twelfth Step, but the generous gift he gave to me, which helped to lift me out of the problems I went through in here. I have learned to do what he did by reaching out and helping others in here.
I know I need to come to meetings and listen and learn and share. It always reminds me of why I need to come to meetings. To stay sober a day at a time. There’s a lot more I have been given. And I know that the gratitude which I have can only be passed on, when I try to not only remain faithful and hopeful, but to also begin to love not just this program, but the people in it, and my Higher Power.