Snakes don’t frighten my son. This may be because my husband and I have made great effort not to let the unexpected sight of snakes startle him. We want him to have a fascination with nature and not immediately kill what he presumes is dangerous. That said, we also tell him if he ever sees a snake to immediately tell Mommy or Daddy and by no means should he touch it or get near it. (Nothing infuriates me more than to see someone kill a snake just because it’s a snake. If it’s a water moccasin in a swimming pool…then …read more

Interesting…
How many of us have the audacity to think that we might know God’s will? Think about it… to approach making the statement that I know what God’s will is for me, or you, imho (lol), I believe that I would have a level of arrogance higher than that I’d had before.
Place my thought plane on a plane equal to God’s? Am I kidding?
Linda said it this morning (nothing original but – thanks my friend) “True humility is the desire to seek and do God’s will.”
This is for me… I have only one way of knowing that I am doing …read more

No alcoholic can stay sober at all…
Then, directly related to self-centeredness in the extreme, “Unless they develop much more of this precious quality than may be required just for sobriety, they still haven’t much chance of becoming truly happy.”
Which, for now, is where I lose understanding.
The state of mind is such that faith and humility are sorely lacking meaning that selfishness is on the table. Do the right thing, do the right thing, do the right thing… and? What?
“Humility, as a word and as an ideal, has a very bad time of it in our world.” It is having a …read more

Therefore – it has no destination…
From “A Two-Way Street” in today’s reflection;
“I was always taught to prepare for the journey through life, never realizing until I came to AA – when I honestly became willing to be taught forgiveness and forgiving – that life itself is the journey. The journey of life is a very happy one, as long as I am willing to accept change and responsibility.”
The last three days, for me, have been a journey beyond my imagination! Funny thing is – all I did was simply change a very small part of my “routine” and had no …read more

For my friend Linda H.
“The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed. When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion – well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.”
Um Hmmm.
From the Daily Reflections once again…
“Fear has caused suffering when I could have had more faith. There are times when fear suddenly tears me apart, just when I’m experiencing feelings of joy, happiness and a lightness of heart.”
I no longer …read more

I can relate to what is said in today’s reflection…
“If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.”
It adds;
“When I had taken my Fifth Step, I became aware that all my defects of character stemmed from my need to feel secure and loved.”
And that’s where I identify!
Reading further, the message becomes – I ask for God’s help and somehow (?) I find myself, having decided to walk through my fear, helping someone else who is walking through their fear! In this reflection the fears are identical.
I’m finding it “funny” right …read more

Reading today’s “Daily Reflections“ I believe I am reading Dr. Bob’s words…
First Things First – Dr. Bob speaks of practice and I imagine that this was passed down to the point when it eventually came to me because my sponsor pointed out to me the only way I’d become good at anything was to practice it. It most certainly applies to recovery as Dr. Bob says;
“And I don’t believe we do AA too well unless we practice it.”
He goes further to speak of practicing then acquiring the spirit of service which, in turn, leads to;
“We should attempt to acquire some …read more

“Fear knocked at the door; faith answered; no one was there.”
Just my personal opinion now – if I’m afforded the luxury of having time to think, even momentarily, at what appears fearful, it is one thing. On the other hand, if I have no opportunity to consider, am taken completely by surprise instantly, it is an entirely different situation.
It happened over ten years ago. My youngest son was coming to stay with me for the summer. We had had our conversations and had made arrangements. Unknown to me because it happened while he was on the road traveling to meet …read more

Take The Cotton Out Of Your Ears! AND – Put It In Your Mouth!
There are a lot of old phrases that meant quite a bit to folks like me that I rarely hear anymore. This is one of them.
Do you take offense to such a saying? If you do, the odds are good that you’re early in sodryety. An oldtimer explained it to me;
You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Everything you know about staying sober is on the first page of the Big Book, therefore when you open your mouth (at days, weeks, or months dry, …read more

That’s right! By telling on his/her disease and being truthful, the oldtimer manipulated the topic at yesterday’s meeting…
You were given cause to think, develop an answer based in the Twelve Steps, and respond accordingly. Did you?
Or, did you believe that the oldtimer was okay, didn’t truly need your help, wasn’t looking for an answer that would not only help him/her but others as well?
Or, did you make one up because you really had no idea what to say but needed to be heard anyway?
What do you think about this?
“How I work my program is none of anyone’s business!!! How anyone …read more