I went to, my now favorite, meeting at the shelter. A little old lady with many bags, pushed herself through the door about half way through the meeting. She asked if she was too late and could she come in. We welcomed her in! She sat down and asked if she could pray for us. The chairperson went to her and explained the rules of the meeting and told her that she could pray at the closing of the meeting. This all happened during my share, in which I was talking (whining more like it) about feeling left out from a family event because I don't drink and how I was jealous of that grand fun time that they were having skiing and partying in the low the Alps of Europe. - Blah blah blah, right? Not that I could have gone anyway!
So, the little lady prayed for us at the end. I couldn't hear her voice well, but what caught my ear was, "He looks after us and provides exactly what we need, exactly when we need it." Them as I was walking out, a friend stopped me and said, don't you see, he is looking out for you? You didn't get invited so you wouldn't be tempted to go and maybe end up drinking! - and wow... A light bulb moment! That's it! I mean even if financially I could, or I didn't have a family to take care of, that would have been the worst place to be for me - around all that drinking! Sheesh. I have no business being there at all!
I felt really amazed, because when I was drinking I was so blind. Blind to everything except for booze. I couldn't fathom this kid of a situation or see the beauty of it or feel the connections. I am not a strong believer in coincidences. I do believe that things happen for a reason. Today, my eyes and heart are clear and open and I can see things around me that I would have never imagined before, and which now fill my heart with joy and gratitude.
November is the month of gratitude!
As I mentioned in the Month of Gratitude post, here is my list for the past week:
Day 11: I am grateful for a fun filled, sober day spent with my 3 kids.
Day 12: I am grateful for the basic necessities of food, water and shelter. My heart goes out to the people of the Philippines.
Day 13: I am grateful to for this joke my 4 year old told me today: What does an elephant take on a vacation? His trunk! LOL!
Day 14: I am grateful for all the sober tools I have collected over the years.
Day 15: I am grateful for the awesome sober women in my life.
Day 16: I am grateful for Nana's help and love!
Day 17: I am grateful for meetings; it feels like being home!
Day 18: I am grateful for being able to see things as blessings and not as problems.
What are you grateful for?
I like her prayer. What we need, when we need it. When we're ready for it, when we can see it. Isn't it good when we don't get what we want, and then we realize it was exactly what we needed? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, Yes this was exactly what I needed! it was just perfect, I was in the right place at the right time!
DeleteThat's why I am not in charge of things anymore...I messed it up big time, so the Creator takes care of things while I do the legwork and sweep the store...lol. I like that lady in there - sounds like it was no coincidence that she was there while you were sharing. It totally had to do with where you were. I love when things like that happen!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Paul
Hi Paul! Thanks, me too, oh don't you call these God shots? Very cool!
DeleteI love your post! AA has been amazing to me.....like a little miracle thing happens to me every time I go.....
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to let God take over.... I'm learning to listen to the little signs I once ignored because I wasn't listening or didn't really know how.... I'm learning that everything happens of a reason....
I'm grateful to have found my pink cloud again.....
Jen
Day 10 again
Hi Jen, so glad, AA has been amazing to me too! I am really glad your are still working at it and don't you give up! It will happen for you I know it. And Yey to pink cloud and 12 days now! Sending many hugs.
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