Our below Guest Contribution is from our great friend and Ally Frostbite Frank..
You are going to get a kick out of this.
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Twas the night before Christmas
We were all in the club
Enjoying the meeting instead of the pub.
The ashtrays were clean and the coffee was made.
The Big Books were out and the Intro was read.
When out in the lot there arose such a clatter
We jumped from our chairs to see what was the matter!
The lead with his big book and I with my smokes
Headed outside, where we found these two blokes.
They came on inside and sat down at the table
And said that they’d share, just as soon as they’re able
To start with, they said, it's more than not drinking.
It's taking real action, to fix our own thinking.
“Think think think!” those slogans we used
To help keep the newcomer from getting confused.
“Live and let live!” Easy does it!” they said:
The problem, we must say, is just in our head.
Step 1 is a start; they said we all know
But after the step 2 we will all feel the glow!
We make a decision when we get to Step 3;
Step 4 is real tough- on this we agree.
Step five is the one where we let it all out
From Steps 6 and 7, we’re left with no doubt.
We get to step 8 and we use our “harms list,”
And then, for Step 9, we have to persist.
After Step, 9 the promises ring true
We didn't just get them out of the blue.
Step 10 keeps us level snd straight on the beam
And Step 11 contacts a Power Supreme.
Step 12 is the key when we learn what we’ve learned
As we share with a friend whose real trust we have earned.
These are the keys to a wonderful life!
Our misery is over! We live free from strife!
And continuing on we proceed with our lives
One day at a time for serenity we strive.
And on, on, and on we must practice the rest:
This is what we must do, to remain at our best.
They put on their coats and got ready to leave
A pretty good end for us, this Christmas Eve!
Their names we did not know: we only could guess
But I'm pretty sure they were Bill W and Bob S.
The two men hopped into a 35 Ford
And as they pulled out, one of them we all heard:
“Carry the message! We all are true brothers!
Trust God! Clean house! Be of service to others!
“And to all of our family we just want to say
Merry Christmas to all! And DON’T DRINK today!
-Shared by a friend
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Thanks so very VERY MUCH Frank
I love this! When I walked in the doors of AA in 1983, there was a white cloud of smoke hanging over a very large square of tables. I had always despised cigarettes. My parents both smoked and I complained relentlessly. It speaks to my level of desperation, my fear of drinking, that I was willing to sit in those smoky meetings. My first bit of service work was picking up the nasty ashtrays, emptying them out, and then washing them. It was a nasty job to me but I wanted what they had - being able to laugh at the past, being comfortable in their own skin, being able to not drink - so I pitched in. I am so glad they are mostly non-smoking now. (I've had a couple of friends sneak in their vapes. Cue judgmental glare by me.) I am, as always, grateful that I don't drink, and very grateful I never smoked.
ReplyDeleteThank You so very VERY MUCH for your great comment. As to smoking you 100% echo my opinion and attitude. I NEVER once ever dealt with ash trays!! Your Alaskan Ally..
DeleteOOPS I thought I added my name when I made the comment.
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