They [the Promises] are being fulfilled among us – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 84
The Promises talked about in this passage are slowly coming to life for me. What has given me hope is putting Step Nine into action. The Step has allowed me to see and set goals for myself in recovery. Old habits and behaviors die hard. Working Step Nine enables me to close the door on the drunk I was, and to open new avenues for myself as a sober alcoholic. Making direct amends is crucial for me. As I repair relationships and behavior of the past, I am better able to live a sober life! Although I have some years of sobriety, there are times when the “old stuff” from the past needs to be taken care of, and Step Nine always works, when I work it.
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Of course, someone once observed that there are a number of promises. I’m sure someone has taken on the task of giving a number to them.
And then someone asked, “What is the first promise?”
Sure; It’s “We will know a new freedom and a new happiness”.
Hah, Hah, Hah! –It’s “we will be amazed before we are halfway through”.
Just a little quiz show fun!
The really nice thing is when one has a kind of subliminal as well as conscious consciousness that these wonderful actualizations have occurred.
I haven’t found any lies in the Big Book.
It’s remarkable, as a matter of fact, how much truth is crammed into this wonderful book.
I am so enchanted, so enthralled and so delighted by this wonderful experience that I don’t want it to end.
I’m Harry, a grateful on–goer.
Thank you, Harry. I gain so much from your comments; I look forward to them as much as the reading.
Yes. Thank you Harry for your comments.
I find the sloooower (emphasis on slow – e.g. fear of financial insecurity) promises hold more significance. Those that come quickly seem to fade quicker. Maybe the “educational variety” of promises.
There are 12 promises on pages 83-84 and the 13th promise is in the 12th step —- “Having had a spiritual awakening as THE result of these steps” is a promise to me that if I do the footwork I will have the opportunity to improve my spiritual condition.
I have to remember that the promises come to pass in my life if I am “painstaking about this phase of (my) development” — either I put my nose to the grindstone and do the footwork or Providence will bring the grindstone to my nose until I am willing. And a loving sponsor pointed out that “before we are halfway through” does not mean I can rest on my laurels after step 5. Good old “half measures availed us no-thing”.
The Promises were my first assignment in AA — I read the chapter three times and didn’t find them so they got underlined. I was taught to read them every day before I was given the first paragraph of Step 3 in the 12×12 to read twice a day. They do fall between steps 9 and 10, but they are my motivation to stay sober and suit up (haven’t mastered shut up yet).
In our area of the Midwest, we read the Promises at almost every meeting after the announcements and before the Lord’s Prayer. “We Think Not” is a group statement. My home group was not surprised when my 4th edition “broke” at pages 82 and 83 — my 3rd edition was broken at pages 83 and 449. I may be one of the “sometimes slowly” crowd, and I am proof that you don’t have to be perfect to get the promises!
I find it easier on my soul to make direct amends as soon as I have offended or hurt someone rather than holding it inside and playing it over and over in my head but sometimes I don’t always recognize when I need to make amends so my 10th step when I review my day @ night helps me realize where I’m @ fault …….its progress not perfection thanks
I’m in the process of making amends to my spouse right now. As I get better, I realise there are some character defects that I have (ie negative attitude) that are tolerable once in a while, but that really cause a lot of problems when someone is exposed to them every day, for years. My amend is to let my spouse know, out loud, that I’m aware of the issue and I’m sorry, and that I’m going to work on it. This is the one I’m really making a huge effort at today and with the help of AA I’ll be a positive thinker yet!
I find everyone’s sharing filled with desire and commitment.
I pray that it may stay that way for all of us.
Harry, a grateful alcoholic.
thanks to everyone for the comments. I was especially touched by the reminder that I must be “painstaking about this phase of (my) development.” I am the person I have failed the most often in my life. I make promises and commitments to myself that I don’t keep. I am much better at keeping them with others, though certainly not perfect. So today, I am reminded that a ” a long period of reconstruction” lies ahead of me as well as that “half measures availed us nothing”. I like the nose to the grindstone image, but I have always imagined that my higher power had a baseball bat or two-by-four that she used to remind me when I am doing my will rather than her will.
Thank you all for being here.