I was reminded by a friend of mine in the program today about us growing. We were talking and going back and kind of examining our stages of growing in this program.
One of the things we were looking at was our reactions and our changes in these. Once we were reacting with anger, resentments, fear, anxiety, and a host of others. We both talked about our not wanting to ever drink again. Then our witness at others like ourselves, who went back out on these emotions, drank again, and died. We didn’t want to go there ourselves.
But most of all, as we talked, we went over our beginning to change. Little by little changing our ways of thinking, and the changes in our reactions to others. Going from anger to peace. Sadness to being happy. Resentments to forgiveness. The effects of the Second Step. Our slowly growing along spiritual lines.
We both had to go back and see how we had begun to practice this program with others like ourselves. Our Twelfth Stepping with others like ourselves. Sharing our experience, strength, and hope with each and everyone we could. Freely giving what was so freely given to us.
And we both were happy to have had the sponsors we had, who helped us to begin to change our lives. We had gratitude, which we needed to express. We talked how we were encouraged to pay attention to staying sober a day at a time. How we had been given a spiritual awakening. How we grew in faith, and hope, and caring in here. Our reliance on our Higher Power, and our gratitude. And our thanks to those old timers, who helped also.
Anyway, I know I was grateful, as was he.