[Freedom1990]

I don't think there's any way that I could even begin to list the blessings that recovery and a loving God have brought to me.

Our tiny AA group (town population approx 3000) seems to come in and roll back out like a tide.

When I first got clean/sober, we had two AA groups and the one I chose as my home group folded about 3 years into my recovery.

Since then there have been periods of years where I was the only female in the group, and don't get me wrong, all the guys are great and I love them as only one alcoholic can love another.

But I missed having other females to talk to. I missed sponsoring.

Now we've started to have a small influx of women again. Two weeks ago I was approached by a gal who's been with our group for about a year now and was asked to sponsor her. I always consider the opportunity to sponsor an honor.

Tonight, our other little gal who's just recently started attending again after a pretty substantial relapse asked me if I would sponsor her too.

She reminds me SO much of myself in my early days of recovery. She's 24 (I was 28), beautiful, very shy, and has a 2 year old son.

What a gift to be able to give freely of myself when I spent so many years sucking the life out of anyone who came within the proximity of my disease. I lied, manipulated, raged, blamed, and hated for so many years.

What a gift to realize that I actually have something that someone wants, and who has asked me for guidance in her journey on this road we call recovery.

No matter how long I live, I will never be able to fully repay what God has so generously given me.

Tonight, I am full of gratitude, and humbled to know all of you here as my brothers and sisters in recovery too.