The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Good Morning,, the Courage to Change reading for today, February 11 speaks about Tradition Five. It states that this tradition helps us to set three goals for ourselves.: One is to work the steps for myself;--- have compassion for the alcoholic;-- and to have compassion for those who come to Alanon.
The amount of love to be found in these three goals are astounding.
The Tradition asks that we love ourselves enough to try to heal and grow by working the steps. We call upon the strength of the steps to love those people we once thought of as our enemies, recognizing that they are struggling to cope with a terrible disease and finally we draw upon these experiences to love those who come to Al-Anon looking for answers
We must recognize that we were pulled from despair by the love of strangers and now that we have found some degree of wholeness it is important that we share it with others who suffer from the effects of alcoholism.
Today's reminder suggests that we needed love before we even knew what it was. Now that we understand something about love, we find we need it more.
By loving ourselves, we not only take care of our own needs but we set a foundation for loving others and by loving others we then learn to treat myself well.
The quote is the Tradition. Tradition five; "each Al-Anon family group has but one purpose; to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the 12 steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding are alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics."
I love the traditions. They are a marvelous set of principles that help me to interact with others in a healthy fashion.. The saying is tha the Steps keep us from Suicide and the Traditions keep us from homicide.
Leaving for a cruise today and will not be back for 2 weeks. I will have little computer access and . I understand that Mary, Kenny, Ms. M and IAH will post the daily and respond to any issue..
Have a wonderful cruise Betty - your ESH will be missed! May you have a great time and the weather be beautiful!
Today's reading reminds me of those who had the courage to form Al-Anon in support of family members and friends of Alcoholics. I believe their had to be some sort of divine intervention for them to get together, realize how far-reaching Alcoholism is and then formulate a way to help restore sanity and find peace/joy.
I feel that way about recovery in general. Who knew that a disease that affects the mind, heart, body and soul could be treated with a spiritual solution? Easiest answer for my analytical mind - divine intervention. I am so grateful those before me had to courage to seek a program for restoring peace/order within.
This reading helps me remember that I came looking for a solution to fix my qualifier(s). I did not seek a solution for me, nor did I even see that I needed one. My hard headed ways of before were firmly planted in loose sand and had to be torn down and rebuilt. I am the only one in my family that has a structured recovery program; thus the only one who has made changes. Yet the whole family tends to function better when I am not 'stuck' in my old ways of unrealistic expectations, control, forcing solutions,etc.
While choosing to recover for me and to change me, I have to keep that in mind and often check my motives. So long as I keep working on me, I am able to remove/reduce my negative energy which helps me have empathy for my qualifiers. Lastly, I will be forever grateful for those who loved me when I walked into the rooms, and want to give away all that I can in the hope of helping others. Nobody should have to live as we all did before we arrived - calm, peace, serenity and joy feel so much better.
Thank you for your ESH & service. We will do our best to fill the void of Betty while you are cruising! (((Hugs))) and prayers for a safe vacation.
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
