Hope, and the Healing of Hearts

[The_Hammer]

...What it was like, what it's like today.

I wonder a lot about what I would have done ten years ago if I had to go through 7 major spinal surgeries, bankruptcy, and watch my little girl weep in her Grandmother's arms at the hospital room in horror of the way her Daddy looked with all the tubes an machines plugged into him. Why? It makes me damned grateful, that's way.
Icepick always said to me that this program was simple, not easy. We're often full of these snippets of wisdom for one another, yet we feel a huge bond, one that could never be broken be human hands. I stepped off Mertyl in Versailles, IN and looked in Best's eyes and felt as if we'd known one another a lifetime. Never mind the fact that I just had a neck surgery July 26, and I had rode 700 miles, stopping every 110 miles to fill her up-is that not miracle enough? Today, miracles are a way of life-very little surprises me; let alone have any shock value at all.
Yet, somehow I still ache for others. Devon, whom I will never cease to pray for-suffers for her child. Jazzed struggles to make ends meet, I got your back my brother-on my knees I am as tall as the tallest man alive. There's power in our numbers and even more in our joined hearts in prayer. Never stop prayin for each other. BillJ, hurtin down in TX. I will never, ever forget our brotherhood and your amazing generosity and the love you have for your fellow man. Don't ever think for a second that my mind and heart are turned to my HP for you as often as you cross my mind, and that's often.
We laugh together, cry together, ride together, pray for one another. Our common malady is our addiction to substances, our incredible strength is the love we have for one another, only compounded by our love of the two-wheeler. Kym, a woman with a heart as big as TX, struggles and hurts for everyone-always thinking of others, rarely turns her beautiful heart to herself. I will never cease to pray for you my sister. And Fulldresser4-my God, who is more important to our recovery than her, the newcomer? God bless Rodney, Fulldresser4 and all the newcomers, without you, I don't stand a prayer!

Be good to yourselves, pray for each other. Together we stand, divided we fall! We will never let our flag hit the ground. Ever. Thank you toad, for your wise counsel. Thank you Rarly, for just being you. Thank you Best, for your strength and your unwavering faith. My heart swells with pride for having none any one of you, to be a part of the larger whole that is our brotherhood, man, what a blessing!

That's it, that's all I have left in me to say.

[toad]

Thanks for the kind words Jimmy..........making my day to think on your gratitude. Lets me know that I need to be reminded of how grateful I truly am.

Our thursday evening meeting is having a little BBQ tonight. Burgers, dogs, and brats, and all the homemade side dishes that AA's love to bring and show off. Heading out in a few minutes to personally fire up the cooker.

Share this with me:

"In spite of the great increase in the size and the span of this Fellowship, at its core it remains simple and personal. Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxii

[Fulldresser4]

Jimmy, God Bless you...you all don't know how much I take out of this forum. I lurk quite often, hesitant to post much (but some of you have caught me ...I'm faking it until I make it but just know that all of you help me every day whether or not you realize it. I have so much to ask, so much to say, I just don't want to bog the forum down.
Rodney, welcome, you have met the best bunch of bikers you will ever come into contact with.

[Freedom1990]

Wow, as I read down through this thread, I got all weepy-eyed and got the most amazing feeling of warmth deep down inside.

Today has been a quiet day, and we went from 79 and sunny to cold with a steady drizzle all day long today. My heart is at peace today, but the degenerative disc disease has flared up, and I've been hobbling around.

This is exactly what I need to read today.

FullDresser4, please don't hesitate to post. I need you. It's always an extra blessing to run across another female in recovery. Our small AA group here in town has often been minus any women for years at a time except for me. We've had a few start coming and I just got asked to sponsor one of them two weeks ago. We have a common bond as women, not just as recovery alcoholics.

Toad, have a wonderful time at the cookout. I just finished up the flyers on Monday for our annual campfire meeting we have out at a small lake. I can't wait for June 9th to get here! We've got a member manning the grill with the hot dogs and hamburgers, and we'll end up with more food than we can eat just like last year! Nothing like good food, good friends, and good fellowship!

Wishing everyone a serene and peaceful evening!

[TonyB]

Jimmy,
You have a big heart my friend.
God has poured out many blessings on you, and His love permeates your soul.
Sobriety is a wonderful gift of God, and our fellowship is one of the fringe benefits.
God bless,
TB

[The_Hammer]

FD4..."bog down the forum"? YOU are what this forum is all about! Read my post again sister! If it weren't for the newcomer, we with a few 24s in would founder and evently, like a dog returns to his vomit, end up right where we started. Post, talk, read and stay with us we want you and all the newcomers, we need you.

[recoveringnky]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

FD4..."bog down the forum"? YOU are what this forum is all about! Read my post again sister! If it weren't for the newcomer, we with a few 24s in would founder and evently, like a dog returns to his vomit, end up right where we started. Post, talk, read and stay with us we want you and all the newcomers, we need you.

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fulldresser4]

Thanks everyone...I think this weekend I will start a "FD4" Thread...I'm just not into the blogs. This way everyone can kind of keep an eye out if they want to, cool if they don't.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

Post, talk, read and stay with us we want you and all the newcomers, we need you.

Yeah! For Pete's sake, don't leave us here with just Hammer for company!

No, it's important that you be able to ask and say what you need, and it's vital that we be able to share our experience, strength, and hope in response. How else are you going to decide whether this sober life is what you want? And how else are we going to be reminded just why this life is what we want?

Keep coming back, and keep sharing, please.

[The_Hammer]

Originally Posted by BillJ

Yeah! For Pete's sake, don't leave us here with just Hammer for company!

No, it's important that you be able to ask and say what you need, and it's vital that we be able to share our experience, strength, and hope in response. How else are you going to decide whether this sober life is what you want? And how else are we going to be reminded just why this life is what we want?

Keep coming back, and keep sharing, please.

Yea....MAN! It's sad enough me ol' lady has to spend all the time with me, no wonder she's crazier n' sh!t house rat! Just funnin ya all. I never kid about the stuff I said earlier, Never. Sometimes when I say what's really on me heart, folk do find it overwhelming. But tha's a lot better than when I was drunk, then I was jus full o' bs, dig? Seems now-a-days when I say stuff, people know I mean it cuz I aint afraid to back me alligator mouth cuz I aint gotta canary arse anymore. (It's more like a pole cat, right Bill, Rar, Best-hehehe)

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by The_Hammer

...What it was like, what it's like today.

I wonder a lot about what I would have done ten years ago if I had to go through 7 major spinal surgeries, bankruptcy, and watch my little girl weep in her Grandmother's arms at the hospital room in horror of the way her Daddy looked with all the tubes an machines plugged into him. Why? It makes me damned grateful, that's way.
Icepick always said to me that this program was simple, not easy. We're often full of these snippets of wisdom for one another, yet we feel a huge bond, one that could never be broken be human hands. I stepped off Mertyl in Versailles, IN and looked in Best's eyes and felt as if we'd known one another a lifetime. Never mind the fact that I just had a neck surgery July 26, and I had rode 700 miles, stopping every 110 miles to fill her up-is that not miracle enough? Today, miracles are a way of life-very little surprises me; let alone have any shock value at all.
Yet, somehow I still ache for others. Devon, whom I will never cease to pray for-suffers for her child. Jazzed struggles to make ends meet, I got your back my brother-on my knees I am as tall as the tallest man alive. There's power in our numbers and even more in our joined hearts in prayer. Never stop prayin for each other. BillJ, hurtin down in TX. I will never, ever forget our brotherhood and your amazing generosity and the love you have for your fellow man. Don't ever think for a second that my mind and heart are turned to my HP for you as often as you cross my mind, and that's often.
We laugh together, cry together, ride together, pray for one another. Our common malady is our addiction to substances, our incredible strength is the love we have for one another, only compounded by our love of the two-wheeler. Kym, a woman with a heart as big as TX, struggles and hurts for everyone-always thinking of others, rarely turns her beautiful heart to herself. I will never cease to pray for you my sister. And Fulldresser4-my God, who is more important to our recovery than her, the newcomer? God bless Rodney, Fulldresser4 and all the newcomers, without you, I don't stand a prayer!

Be good to yourselves, pray for each other. Together we stand, divided we fall! We will never let our flag hit the ground. Ever. Thank you toad, for your wise counsel. Thank you Rarly, for just being you. Thank you Best, for your strength and your unwavering faith. My heart swells with pride for having none any one of you, to be a part of the larger whole that is our brotherhood, man, what a blessing!

That's it, that's all I have left in me to say.

Jimmy: I love you, my Brother, you inspire me.....

[The_Hammer]

Jimmy: I love you, my Brother, you inspire me.....

You and all the rest here, are why I made this post. Right back at ya Rar. If I croaked today, I'm a better man for having Known any one of ya.