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.
The C2C reading for December 20 speaks about the sole purpose of Al-Anon as listed in Tradition Five. . That is:"To help the families of alcoholics." .
This Tradition goes on to explain how we do this:"By practicing the 12 steps ourselves. We must do this , because we need to learn to love ourselves before we can love others. When we tend to our own spiritual needs we make it possible for others to see that special something in us that they may want themselves. The best sermon is a good example.
The traditions also states that we learn to encourage and understand our alcoholic relatives. We can all be more loving, knowing that alcoholism is a disease and to respond with compassion rather than hostility.. Lastly the purpose of alanon is to welcome and give comfort to families of alcoholics.
By practicing compassion, we will learn to be kind and loving to ourselves and we will not stop there but will extend this compassion to others. I am one among many. When I offer unconditional love it comes back to me multiplied.
The quote is from the Bible "love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant, or rude love does not insist on its own way."
I love the Traditions. They are powerful guides to maintain the harmony of the program
Great reading today - thank you Betty for your post, ESH and your service.
The traditions are so very powerful as the baseline for how Al-Anon works and continues working. I agree they provide much needed harmony for recovery and it often amazes me that as best I know, there are no other groups, memberships, etc. where people from all different walks of life come together without some type of hierarchical structure. We have trusted servants, not elected or paid leaders. It's such a wonderful experiment of how success actually works when we realize we have a common experience and common goal.
I will have plenty of opportunities to practice patience and compassion for the next 2 weeks!! My parents arrived safely last night and all is well. They are headed out to church so I have a mini-reprieve!
I am feeling very blessed this morning, as they have been here on the ground for almost 12 hours, and my mother hasn't yet asked about seeing my boys....Thank you HP for the reprieve from that question that makes things a bit uncomfortable for me.
(((Hugs))) to you and yours, and happy Sunday!
Off to a meeting in less than an hour - so grateful I get to go!
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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
