Wednesday, November 5, 2008

a - b - c

(Mr. Kitty waking up in "his" jungle!)

a - b - c
(From "Alcoholics Anonymous", p. 60)

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.

(a) I was a hopeless alcoholic and could not manage my own life. I couldn't manage to stay sober more than a few minutes after I was recovered from the last drunk. I would swear not to drink again - feeling so sick - but as soon as I began to feel the slightest bit better, I would be pouring it in again.

(b) No human power could relieve my alcoholism. I went searching many places for someone to "fix" me and many people tried. The church prayer group couldn't help me. The ministers, doctors, counselors, psychiatrists, friends, family - none could relieve my misery.

(c) God could and He did when I sought Him.

This happened when I woke up from my last drunk. When I was close to three months sober, I went with slippery people to a slippery place. It was the Fourth of July and I went with my husband and adult friends who were drinking to an island off the coast of Florida. (I couldn't drive home or call a cab to take me home.) The fireworks were over, the boat broke down, the children were all asleep on the beach and the adults were on the boat trying to get it started.

And where was I? Sitting all alone in the dark on a cooler of beer. What happened? All thoughts of AA or not drinking disappeared from my mind, (I was without a spiritual defense.) I stood up, opened the cooler, took out a beer and drank it. I remember to this day what happened when I took that first sip - my mind did an about-face and said, "This is O.K. No problem drinking this beer." From that moment on, I had to have another and another. The next day I woke up to either drag myself to a meeting or go get my drink of choice, vodka. The vodka won out. I drank myself into oblivion. (This was my last drink - July 5, 1985.)

The next day, I awoke a different person than the one who had passed out the day before. In that instant upon awakening, I knew where to find my answers - God made Himself known to me through the members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I had always believed in God, but was unable to make the necessary connection with Him. AA showed me how. I got a sponsor, stuck with the AA women winners, worked the steps, prayed, followed directions. In this way, my relationship with my Higher Power, God, was formed.

Today, I am able to connect directly with God and He also continues to make Himself known to me through my fellow Alcoholics Anonymous recovering friends including you bloggers.

Prayer Girl

10 comments:

Shadow said...

when the time is right, the time is right...

steveroni said...

Yep, that's the Mr Kitty I found shivering, cold, and wet, under a pile of wood behind the neighbor's house.

That was 12 years ago. He was about three weeks old. And he DOES love his own jungle out there. And I like my own jungle in here!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for doing the A,B,C's with me today. So glad that you had a nice time on your cruise.

Unknown said...

Thank you for this post, such a great reminder of why I got to AA and the absolute grace it gives me each day!
What a beauty of a Mr. Kitty too!!!
Hugs,
g

Kathy Lynne said...

thank you for sharing that..I can identify.

Syd said...

I'm glad that you shared this. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful our HP is. And how the program works if we work it. Thanks!

~Tyra~ said...

Awesome post, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

"stuck with the women winners.." Such an important part of recovery for the female alcoholic. I can't stress it enough

Wait. What? said...

My husband is reading a book called " Drunkard" written by a guy from Chicago. It is the first book he has ALMOST finished in probob;y 18 years. The only book I have witnessed him reading - but last night as we read, he put it down and said he did not want to finish it. I asked why and it was ebcause towards the end , the guy started drinking again and I think my husband does not want an unhappy ending as he is attached to the main character - the book is about real life.

Thank you for posting Mr. Kitty - he is lovely and for your sharing today.

Cat

Zanejabbers said...

GHURLFRIEND, you said a mouthfull. Thanx.