Wednesday, August 02, 2006

H, J and F!!

I used to hear talk of this sort of thing in meetings when I first came around and I always thought it was some kinda of "mamby-pamby", Casper Milktoast, Mr. Rogers sorta crap... Plus, this passage really made it difficult for me to continue being the "victim" of all the bad things and people in the world who were causing my troubles!! Well, as has often been the case, my thoughts on this have changed over the years in AA. I believe in this wholeheartedly, and along with Gratitude and Love, I think this ranks right up there with being absolutely indispenable for contented, peaceful, continued sobriety.

"We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was for many of us. But, it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence." -Alcoholics Anonymous p. 133

I did not get sober to be miserable, I had enough of that while drinking and drugging. And I realize that there are those who have depression and chemical imbalance problems "...but many of them do recover, if they have the capacity to be honest..." -Alcoholics Anonymous p. 58 I love the idea that HP/God wants me to be happy, joyous and free... I LOVE that! To me, that's the real reward of sobriety... It has taken me a long time to understand and experience what that truly means on a consistent (not as fleeting as it used to be) basis. It has even taken some professional/medical assistance with depression & thyroid. I am just so grateful for this life and all it brings me each day. I came to AA to stop feeling miserable, stuck around to qtop drinking and drugging and I continue to come to maintain this quality of life, spiritually and emotionally speaking.

Prayer for the day:

God/HP, thank you for another sober morning. I am grateful to you for the program of AA, the fellowship of those of us who have suffered and come out the other side of that dark abyss of living alcoholism and addiction. You have placed us together for a reason, and I am grateful. Please help me today to enjoy each moment as it comes, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. God, please remove the bondage of self, that I may be willing to follow Your guidance, to seek your Grace in my life today and then share it with those I meet on the path. God/HP, I am especially grateful for the gift of music, I pray that I may continue to strive to live up to Your Will for me, where this particular gift is concerned.

peace to you all...

5 comments:

Gooey Munster said...

I love your daily prayers Scott. God gave us the most precious gift, life. Through our pain we were meant to discover Him, how glorius us that!

Thank you for your dedication and being here.

Shannon said...

right on... seems like we are all on the same page as far as gratitude- and love- haoppy joyous and free


thanks for sharing
have a great day

Anonymous said...

Just what I needed to read!

thanks,

Christie

http://journals.aol.com/christiexdean/sc-momma/

Mary Christine said...

Life is good :)

lash505 said...

Life is good, I believe it as well.