Post by THE THIRD PROMISE on Mar 1, 2004 3:42:26 GMT -5
In the third promise we are told, We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. We once drank to kill pain, but it only increased our agony. In sobriety, we find we can use our past suffering for emotional growth, healing, and peace of mind.
While alcoholism is a disease of denial, recovery in A.A. is based on the truth of the Serenit Prayer, which teaches us acceptance of the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to knw the difference.
We can begin to savor serenity after we accept that we are not going to get anywhere we want just because we stopped drinking. We will, instead, be content and grateful for the good things that come our way. How different from our drinking years when we bitterly complained about ever imagined rejection.
Serenity is not a passive attitude but requires constructive action that creates an ideal climate for spiritual growth. With peace of mind, we readily take inventories of both defects and assets in our characters. Selfishnes does not grow in an atmosphere of serenity. We cannotbe hateful and grateful at the same time. Serenity has been called a passport tothe presence of a Higher Power. Serenity makes our forgiveness of others and ourselves possible. It frees us from excessive living and thinking.
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My ex-sponsor and advisor told me a grateful addict with never have reason to pick up. With one hand in the hand of my Higher Power and the other hand busy helping someone else, I will never have a hand free to pick up. The best way of getting of myself, was to help someone else, when I did, I found I never had it so good.
While alcoholism is a disease of denial, recovery in A.A. is based on the truth of the Serenit Prayer, which teaches us acceptance of the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to knw the difference.
We can begin to savor serenity after we accept that we are not going to get anywhere we want just because we stopped drinking. We will, instead, be content and grateful for the good things that come our way. How different from our drinking years when we bitterly complained about ever imagined rejection.
Serenity is not a passive attitude but requires constructive action that creates an ideal climate for spiritual growth. With peace of mind, we readily take inventories of both defects and assets in our characters. Selfishnes does not grow in an atmosphere of serenity. We cannotbe hateful and grateful at the same time. Serenity has been called a passport tothe presence of a Higher Power. Serenity makes our forgiveness of others and ourselves possible. It frees us from excessive living and thinking.
=======================================
My ex-sponsor and advisor told me a grateful addict with never have reason to pick up. With one hand in the hand of my Higher Power and the other hand busy helping someone else, I will never have a hand free to pick up. The best way of getting of myself, was to help someone else, when I did, I found I never had it so good.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.