Oct. 11, 2012 - Just for Today

Just for Today
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012

" ...A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative. We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. ...
"But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 9 ("The Family Afterward"), p 133.

Just for today, grant me understanding and patience that recovery from extended daily drinking will come in their own time and only if I allow them by totally abstaining from drinking. It took extended time for my body, mind and spirit to become part of the alcoholic culture; it may take as long or longer to recover. In my zeal to recover, let me understand that my physical recovery may take weeks or months but that my spiritual and emotional recovery will probably take longer. And until my spiritual and emotional health is back to an even playing field even if my body has recovered, I need to realize that the Program and its Twelve Steps are the way for me to recover spiritually and emotionally. But should I suspect a need for medical or psychological treatment, let me not be reluctant to seek them out, as the Big Book rightly and wisely advises. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012