Living Sober - Letting Go and Holding Tight

I am not cured.

Living sober doesn’t mean I am cured from alcoholism, because

“We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is daily reprieve
contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” (AA Big Book page 85)

So, here’s a useful maintenance tip for our spiritual condition:

Sometimes we need to reprogram our minds by giving every thought we have to the Lord. ~ Oakcliff Bible Church, Dallas, Texas

Early on, I balked. I thought some stuff was too unimportant to bother God with. But then I heard a friend in recovery say: It’s not the elephant in the living room that brings you down – it’s the ants in the pantry.

living sober — Living sober means Give the little stuff to God, too

Now, I am getting better at letting go of little daily stuff – those thoughts that I can roll around and around the way a tumblebug rolls around you-know-what in the corral. What I heard that helped me give worrisome little thoughts to God may help you: Before you say: I can’t . . . say I’ll try.

Being willing to be willing . . .

A great part of health is the desiring of health. And a good sign of healing, is to be willing to heal. ~La Celestina, 1499, translated from Spanish

Living sober has come to mean I

Keep It Simple . . . sweetheart. K.I.S.S. (Drunks aren’t stupid, but we often make stupid choices after concocting elaborate excuses why we are special.) So, just for now – here’s some simple advice: this moment don’t pick up. Get to meeting; call your sponsor; pray. (God is always on call!)
Keep It Real . . . “Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.” J.K. Rowling
Keep It in Perspective . . . This too shall pass – if we don’t hang on to what we can give over to the care of God as we understand Him.

What is IT? – Our daily choices, conversation, and behavior. One day is all anybody has.

There are two days in every week that we have no control over—-yesterday and tomorrow. Today is the only day we can change. (AA Slogan)

Dear Reader –

Thank you for stopping by – your comments and questions are welcome – and any encouragement you have gained and can share is valuable!

Living sober even on the worst day sober has been better for me than my best day drinking – I didn’t think it could be true. But AA’s kept inviting me to keep coming. And in time . . . I found that was no exaggeration

Love in Christ,

Sober and Grateful

Do you want a drink, or do you want relief?

Living Sober