[Clutch B]

I'm sorry, AW. I also worked with a family member. But in my case he didn't want to go to meetings with me.

So I gave him a meeting schedule, a Big Book, a Twelve & Twelve book, a notepad, and a pen. I told him what a sponsor was and recommended that he ask someone to be his sponsor. I recommended that he get phone numbers from the men at the groups he went to. He got a nice start on his own, got a sponsor and started working the steps. But came to the conclusion that AA was not for him right now.

Although his stint in AA didn't work out, I'm glad that he has seen the program. And if he ever decides that he needs help, he knows where to go and how to get it.

I wish that I could have done more, but he did not want me involved.

This was actually a topic a few weeks ago at my homegroup. Someone recalled the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." And really, we can't make anyone work the program or get sober. But we can guide them to the program when they come to us for help. It's their choice whether to work the program.

I hope that your cousin will decide to get help if he needs it. I think you did the best you could do, and it's not your fault if he has decided to step away. So please don't feel bad about that. This is one of those things we can't control.