Tackling Step Three of the Twelve Steps

Some of you may be familiar with the twelve-step program for recovery from addiction, originally proposed by Alcoholic Anonymous as a method of recovery from alcoholism. Well, today I’m going to write a bit about Step Three as it relates to me and my life as a breast cancer survivor.

What prompted this, you ask? Well, b5media blogger Mark at A Dozen Steps writes regularly on the twelve step program. And when we at the b5media Health & Wellness channel found out it was National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we decided to pitch in and write posts relating to one of the steps in support of Mark and what he does — each of us writing about a step or two that resonates with us.

You really should read Mark’s post on this team effort.

For the record, I’m not an alcoholic, and I’ve never had to battle an addiction. I have, however, read the twelve steps, and I have to say, Step Three resonates with me greatly.

Those who have taken Step Three have:

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Here it is, from the Alcoholic Anonymous Big Book (p.63):

We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: “God, I offer myself to Thee - to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!” We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

In my life, after I was diagnosed with cancer the first time, I finally internalized that I was powerless in the world. That I was not in control of my life or my health … and that I would have to give it all up to God (how many times did I hear the phrase, ‘let go and let God’) if I were going to get through my treatment with my sanity.

Because I was diagnosed early, because I lived, I also realized that He had a plan for my life post-cancer, a plan that I couldn’t predict or control. I realized that if I allowed Him to direct me and my choices I’d be at peace not only with my illness; I’d be at peace with my recovery.

From that day forward … I let go and let God.

Today I can honestly say I’ve turned my will and my life over to His care. And I’m a better person because of it. I’m a better survivor because of it.

Actually, I’m the survivor I’m supposed to be because of it. Thanks be to God.