HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH
This week’s Here’s To Your Health is the beginning of Polly’s story:
By God’s grace and the blessings from a program called Alcoholic’s Anonymous, I have not taken a drink of alcohol since April the 11, 1977 and for that, I am genuinely grateful. And, I’m as much in love with Alcoholics Anonymous today as when I first got sober. And I’m more active in service work today than ever before. The A.A. program not only saved my life but it has given me everything of value that’s in my life today. If you are new to A.A., I sincerely hope some of the enthusiasm that I feel for this program will rub off on you.
I got sober in Texas, lived in California, then moved to Washington State. When I hear an A.A. speaker, if they don’t give their sobriety date, I suspect they probably don’t have one? I am of the opinion that it takes three things to be a member in good standing of Alcoholics Anonymous, a sobriety date, home group and a sponsor. Thanks to A.A. I have a good job and although it sometimes interferes with A.A. functions, if it wasn’t for A.A., I would not be employable. Another benefit from being an A.A. member is that we have an opportunity to attend national and international conventions where we meet many sober, unique, talented and dynamic people. A few years ago I was speaking in Nashville, Tennessee and although I didn’t remember meeting this lady, after that convention she called me long distance from Nashville and eventually asked me to sponsor her. Connecting with Lynn is but another example of the many wonderful experiences God has blessed me with since joining A.A. Lynn has given birth to two children since we started working together and our relationship has allowed us countless, priceless, experiences. After we finally met face to face, Lynn said, “Perhaps it would be better if I went back to my hotel room and called you on the telephone; that’s the only way we’ve ever communicated?”
Most A.A. speakers get up and tell a “rags to riches,” story but mine is not like that; my story is about “riches to rags.” But without any shadow of doubt, I’m the wealthiest woman on the planet. If money means wealth then I am indeed poor but if living a full and fruitful life filled with gratitude means wealth, I am wealthy beyond words. I have experienced so much unconditional love in A.A. that it surpasses human understanding. A.A. is so wonderful that sometimes I can barely stand it and as I share with you my experience, strength and hope it is my sincere desire that you can feel my gratitude for being an alcoholic woman in recovery and especially to be an alcoholic mom.
I once heard an A.A. speaker say, “I might not walk like I talk, but thank God I don’t walk like I think!” I still suffer from ‘chronic alcoholic thinking’ and although I no longer drink alcohol my thinker is nevertheless broken and I still need A.A. meetings, a sponsor and the program of action outlined in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, to lead me in a good orderly direction (God). If any practicing alcoholic believes that just being sober will be enough; it’s not. A.A. is a design for living with alcoholism, and although alcoholics hate the way things are, we hate change more, but change we must. If we cannot or will not change and start practicing a different set of daily actions and principles we are doomed to a hell on earth, where all hope has been abandoned and we will be destined to die a lonely, miserable, alcoholic death.
To be continued.
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