Originally Posted by
EnglishGarden 
While everyone around the addict hurts like hell. We take every betrayal and unkind word and every criticism straight through our hearts, without narcotics to buffer the pain.
If an addict's facebook page isn't humble, then there's something missing. In my opinion.
Gratitude. Humility. Amends.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Amends - after a searching inquiry, searing awareness and supine acknowledgement of what they've done to us.
Amends - not just the A's usual, passing-by "sorry." A contrite, humble apology. A soulful penance. A teary-eyed expression of remorse. Repeated, on one's knees. Something that lets us
KNOW that the A finally gets it, gets us, gets our suffering, gets our struggle. An opening of the door to human reconciliation.
Amends - asking what would it take to make things right then making things right, changed behavior, actual redress, restitution, recompense, reparation, restoration, mending the fences ...
ALL THREE, but stoppable AT ANY TIME by the one to whom amends is being made ... by way of understanding, mercy, or forgiveness back. Not simply forgiveness in and to clear one's own head. Forgiveness in response to Amends.