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