No matter how old you are or how long that you’ve been in the program Situations can change on time trials and tribulations can reek havoc.
My sponsor gave me a keen piece of advice piece of advice sobriety my sobriety is as long as your arm doesn’t doesn’t matter the age doesn’t matter the longevity That’s all it is sobriety is as long as My arm.
I will tell you quite honestly the hardest time that I ever had trying to stay sober was when my wife passed away. Not only because she meant so much to me But because I had felt that I had nothing to live for after after her passing away.
This is a heartfelt moment for me so try to bear with me. I met my wife in this program over 30 years ago.
We got married In front of the 12 traditions and the 12 steps of our home group. At that time it was unheard of we had to petition a intergroup to allow us to do this.
They happily said yes. So we got married On our 1st year anniversary from the program program because our sponsors told us not to make any major decisions within the 1st year 1st year. So we didn’t we waited. Not only can I say that that was the best years of my life. It was the best 10 years of sobriety that I ever had with a woman so loving and so caring that allowed the fellowship to come into our lives integrate itself into our lives and become a part of us.
We were as closely knit as any Perfect love marriage that you could think of we had it all. We hosted meetings candlelight vigils in our house my wife cooked and made pastry pastries for the meetings In our home.
People would come from all around they would drive an hour an hour an hour and a 1/2 out of their way to come and fellowship with us in our home. I can remember Bill did this with his wife. When I think of those candlelight moments And the glow in my wife’s eyes as she would tell her story to newcomers do newcomers with such zeal and admiration for the program it was astonishing breath taking.
I never remarried after thatI still honor my wife’s memory by wearing a black wedding ring in her honor. If there was a time to drink it was going to be then I was at the jumping-off-place it was like I was starting all over from scratch the only thing I hadn’t done is pick the drink up that’s the only thing I didn’t do because I knew that my wife would not want me to live and turmoil and misery for the rest of my life.
That is where the unity and the love of the fellowship is so important. Because in the end that’s all I had for support that in my higher power is what still drives me to stay sober 30 years later. And that happened on our 10 year anniversary I’ve been in the program when she passed away. It was a very heartfelt moment the only people who knew were on Facebook.
So yes I am living proof that’s still plugging along can work as long as you work it. Lord William I will be celebrating my 31st anniversary of being sober at the end of this month. Not only do I owe it To the love dedication and perseverance of this program but also for the love and dedication and perseverance that I have for my wife. Always remember to thine ownself be true.
