Family

[Butterfly Woman]

There is a section in the Big Book of Alcohoics Anonymous that address the family ..

Those of us in recvoery havwe run amuck and sometimes destroyed the trust and respect of those we love. Our disease took us to places we never would have gone had it not been for the illness that robbed us of sane thinkiong and rational behavior.

Yet as we trudge this road of recovery it is sometimes hard to explain to those we hurt the most how distructive the diease is in our minds. Al Anonn is a suggestion for those we love. Not only does it help to explain our disease but it too has many tools by which the family can use. in so doing the famly as a whole can then begin the journey of discovery and healing

It too is only a suggestion.. We can force or drag anyone into the rooms of recovery. What we do know from many yeaqrs of experience is that it works...If we work it.

What is it folks asks. It is what you make it. Acceting "Life on life's terms" is not just for those of us recovering from the physical, mental, emotional turmoil of the disease of alcoholism and addiction.; but a principle that extends beyond gender, disease, sexuality, race and all categories of life.

This is a great place to share your concerns as well as the miracles of recovery so that others can grow from your Expereince Strength and Hope.

Nice Post BW and yeah you are right we need them here also! I know that I also have loved ones that is still sick with this drug/alcohol induced life. It is hard to watch them and I am sure it was just as hard for them to watch me back than.

I know that we all need each other and that is what recovery is truly about.

Yesterday I got the first tradition of NA done, and was thinking about what it says about to get along with others. I guess as long as I try my best that is all that I can do. Can not make anyone else change except for me. Blessings to ya.

[Butterfly Woman]

We cannot change them...we cannot drag them to this journey. We can talk until we are blue in the face and it may not make a difference....but how we walk, how we change and grow, how we carry ourselves on this journey...that is what will speak volumes and be the attraction for others to join us.

[Butterfly Woman]

There is another section in the Big Book that would include the family as well

It is the 14 day prayer.

it mentions individuals we resent..
For 14 days we pray for the individual aksing for all the things that we would want for ourselves to be given tothem...Peace, serenity and Whatever God's will is for them

When I first started doing that it was with gritted teeth and a few cuss words included with their name. I had to keep doing it over and over until I was able to do so wiht an open heart and with sincereity

Prayer is one of our greatest and most powerful tools.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is FREE CHOICE...They may continue to choose to be butt heads but placing them on Go'd shoulders and releasing them to the Power so Much greater than ourselves allows us the freedom of being free of the resentment that may block us from the Sinlight of the Spirit.

There are times that same individual [for me] must be placed on that 14 day prayer list over and over. it takes what it takes...and I must continue to do it so that they do not take up space [free rent] in my head and I am free of the nagging corroding resentment that in the past ate away at my spirit.

What I often tell folks is...I place that person on God's shoulders...That allows me to curl up ion his lap and rest, or ask for peace and comfort. What I do not get to do while in his lap is .....I do not get to loook up his sleeve to see what he has in store for that person I placed on his lap. Nor do I get to micro manage and look over his houlder to see how fast he is working on them..TEE HEE...His shoulders are too big for me to see over anyway...and I must remember or be reminded that HE does not punch my time clock. LOL