The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Aloha MIP family young and old new and old timer. I take this little bit of time to express to you all my gratitude for all the love and support and ESH that you have freely offered over the last year and beyond. I owe you and others soooo much not the least of is my very life. Without the lantern that was held by whom you came to teach me was my Higher Power that led me to the doors of the Al-Anon Family Groups I doubt that I would continue to draw a breath on any level. Christmas is the "gift" day for me; not for receiving anything special but for the gift of memory...the looking back at all that has happened from receiving truely what I needed and then came to understand was also what I wanted. Little of it had to do with material possessions unless you can count huggers and unconditional lovers material. My imagination can picture that and I resort to heavy smiling.
It is very difficult for me today to understand the capacity of my HP's love to have placed me here and kept me here. I don't try to understand it outside of a concept of HP's love. To be loved like this makes up for all of the times in the disease of alcoholism and addiction that I felt I was not. The wait was beyond worth it and the only spiritual emotion I am left with is gratitude.
So I return to you all freely what you have freely given to me through out this journey of recovery; a warm caress of gratitude, warm cheek to cheek with a tender squeeze and a loving smile.
A very beautiful post, Jerry! Thank you. The solace I have found on the site and with the people who visit here, and especially YOU, my friend, is priceless. Thank you so much for the time you have spent personally with me this year. It has been a very precarious year for me in terms of my health. I am hoping and praying for 2009 to bring better times.
Merry Christmas, Blessings, and Best Wishes for 2009!
Thank you for the incredible gift you bring to MIP everyday. I am humbled by your growth in the program and I pray that one day I may be endowed with your wisdom. May the peace and grace of HP be with you over the holidays.
Hope it is a wonderful time for you and yours..... We have almost two feet of snow up here in Vancouver, BC - which is quite rare for us.... Want us to ship some over to Hawaii?? :)
Tom
__________________
"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
Jerry, Thank you for your inspiration, guidance, and wonderful ESH during my first year on this board. Hardly a day goes by that I don't use something you have said, or an example you have given to make my life better. Your my man.
RLC
P.S. Since that was on a serious note you know I have to occasionally have a lighter side. So with that in mind even though you did offer a cheek to cheek with a tender squeese. I'm just going to go with the loving smile and a firm hand shake, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
My mother used to love this song. To this day, I smile in remembrance of her exuberance for the times she went to Hawaii and that is why there is much happiness related to this carol.
love in recovery, Maria
__________________
If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?