Got a new sponsee tonight...

[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.

[toad]

"Freely you have received, freely give."

I hail from a town of 5,000. our meetings are similar to what you described. For years we only had one meeting a week. There were other meetings on the other days of the week, but you had to drive 10-40 miles to get to them. I have sat in many many meetings with my sponsors wife, my sponsorette, being the only female there. Several years ago our meeting averaged 6-10 people. It was small but very good, with the opportunity to get to know each. We started a second meeting about 5 years ago. It struggled for a few years but now has picked up in attendance. About a year ago we started a third meeting. Now all three meetings have between 10-20 in attendance. We are running real close to having equal men and women. Some meetings the women out number the men. It is very special to have you life depend on something and have it grow and bloom before your very eyes.

Reading your posts I can see why someone would want you to be their sponsor. Even the posts that have some turmoil the serenity still powerfully shows itself.

"If you keep doing what you are doing, you'll keep getting what you are getting."

Thanks DeVon

[Freedom1990]

Toad, we actually manage to run 3 meetings a week too, and although Friday nights seem to be the worst as far as attendance, we always have 3-4 of us there.

We do have a nearby group (about 36 miles west) who will bring a car load of folks occasionally on our Big Book study night (Wednesdays) and that's always a treat to have support from a group in the same district.

I have to give God and a tough as nails sponsor credit for helping me to achieve the serenity that I have worked many years to attain.

I appreciate your kind comments very much, and hope the rest of your weekend is filled with blessings!

[serenityqueen]

If We Want To Keep What We Have

We Have To Give It Away!