Remember More than My Last Drink
In a recent meeting, I heard an AA celebrating forty-four years suggest we remember our last year drinking. What was it like? How much fun was it, really?
How did we feel throughout that year before we acknowledged our powerlessness, and gave our drinking over to the care of God? Really?
It’s a time worth memorializing so that we have a weapon when the crazy – stinkin’ – thinking creeps in.
“Stinkin’ Thinkin’”
This is a catch-all phrase describing the mind set when we lift the glass before taking that drink.
What are the particulars? *
What do the professionals say are the errors* that put folks in recovery on the road to a literal slip, or a dry drunk? Funny thing, when I considered the errors, I saw they are the very things that God hates. I’ve added a Bible reference beside Dr. Samenow’s laundry list of wrong thoughts and deeds. And they coalesce neatly with many AA Slogans!
What Is Stinkin’ Thinkin’?
*Failure to put oneself in the place of others. Philippians 2:2-4
*Lying (about their drinking and other aspects of their life). Colossians 3:9
*A domineering personality in which controlling others is paramount to their self esteem. James 4:1-10
*Unrealistic expectations of others and often of themselves. James 4:3
*A pronounced proclivity to blame others or circumstances when they are held accountable Matthew 7:3-5
*An ability to shut off from awareness their knowledge of possible consequences to their actions. Luke 14:28
*A thin skin in which they take small slights very personally. Hebrews 12:1-6
*A tendency to defer or totally default when it comes to fulfilling obligations. Proverbs 6:9-11
*A failure to deal constructively with adversity. Genesis 50:20
In many ways, we each have seen HOPE walking and talking in the meetings, just as we may see what the disease looks like when one of us decides they haven’t had their last drink.
Dear Reader, Don’t get crazy because life continues to be hard!
Remember: Life is hard – But God is good.
Thanks for reading!
Love in Christ,
Sober and Grateful
* Source for List of ERRORS * Psychology Today 2103
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018