Praying with children.

Mr_David · MIP Old Timer

Praying with children.

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Last night while the crazy rambler at my home group was spewing out non-sense, I remembered my sponsor told me to do a serenity prayer marathon in my head, so as not to be tempted to get up and slap him. It was particularily bad last night. He was more off his rocker than usual. I was pretty embarrased because I had picked up a lady that could not drive, to introduce her to this meeting that I told her I really liked and had decided would be my home group. She has been in the program a month today, but can only walk to one building that she lives close to. Luckily, there are several meetings there every day... so she has a few options... I met her at that building over the weekend and found out she also dealt with a murder/ suicide and started drinking it away like me. Her story was actually worse than mine, because her children were first shot, then her husband killed himself. It was also around the same yr, so we have both been drinking like this for around 10 yrs! Like me, at random, her car blew up on the way home that long ago night, so she did not make it home for the "flip out" and was not also killed. Her surviving son was with her. I know for sure my HP was watching out for me the night I found my boyfriend had shot himself. Although I wish I would have been spared to be the one to find him, I WAS SPARED MY LIFE, and even the officers said it looked like he had planned to kill me then himself, but I never showed up. Long story... wo sorry...

So we have this sort of same past, and she makes me appreciate my children when things get hard, another gift from my HP as that is just what I need in my life right now... and so after I meet her, I offer to drive her around in hopes to help her and myself do this program right.

ANYWAY - This rambler that was the worst I've ever seen him, prolonging the meeting 10 minutes on his second time talking (out of turn)... I'm doing the serenity prayer in my head, and trying not to look at the look on my new friends face which was pretty funny, and then it hits me! I should be teaching this serenity prayer to my children!!!! My 5 yr old, just like I did as a kid, looks at the negative instead of the positive. At breakfast this morning, he says to me "Mama, do you want to know all the things I hate about being 5?" WHAT??? NO! I want to know at least 2 good things about it though! "but mama..." So I've been dealing with this pecimisitic attitude of his for a while, and trying to help him see things differently. It's been a huge part of my life lately, and then PLOP! YET ANOTHER gift from my HP last night. The revelation to this AA baby, that I should be saying this prayer with my son for BOTH our sake!

So just a few minutes ago, I just sit between Max and Layla, and close my eyes and say it. Max looks over to me with a weird look on his face, then smiles and says "COOL".

It is cool. AA is cool.

My friend from last night also told me on the way home, that when I called, she was looking out the window, while everyone was grilling out and having a couple of beers, and wishing and debating wether she could walk over and join them. Be a "normal" drinker... and then bam, the phone rings and it was me asking her to go to a meeting with me. I felt really really good about that.

jj · MIP Old Timer

Praying is always a good idea, and teaching kids the serenity prayer is a great way to introduce them to the spiritual being in themselves and God. meetings sometimes need a stop watch and a firm voice of leadership. so glad you were there for your new friend. hugs from jj/sheila

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Beautiful post Tasha! smile I love to read or hear about Spiritual moments and events. Great stuff! If we live a Spiritual way of life, it certainly will benefit everyone we come in contact with. Thank you for sharing.

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

It's happening for you Tasha. When we start engaging the fellowship, then begins a chain of unending serendipitous events. pretty soon, you're a couple years sober.

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

Wonderful post Tasha. "we will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows" It's happening alright, as Dean said.

God bless, MikeH

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

This is good work Tasha. This is the type of reflecting and growing I was doing early on in my program. The serenity prayer, having faith, letting go and not being anxious are basic coping skills that my parents did not teach me. This stuff is going ot help you be a better mom because it's going to help you be a calmer and healthier person and that will be passed on to your kids.

maire rua · Senior Member

excellent post,

Rob84 · MIP Old Timer

Tashia,

Thanks for sharing and good service work picking up your friend. I think God sometimes puts people in our path to reach us love and tolerance and how to deal with situations.

Anything we deal with in AA meetings are usually just some "softballs" God is throwing at us so we can develope some tools for future use.

I don't get that concerned about what a new person might think or hear at one of their first meetings. They are either going to remember a few things that give them reason to stay or a few things that give them reason to leave, it's not within our control.
Either they stay sober or get drunk.

I'm sure we all can learn a lot from your lady friends experience. There is a guy in our area who got sober at the age of 20, 5 years later he was helping someone who's car was broke down on the side of the road, he caught on fire and dove into some water on his neck and has been paralyzed from the waist down ever since. He is about 55 today and has still never picked up a drink.

I tell the story to guys I sponsor and remember it myself....sowhatamI going to drink over the little stuff I have to deal with in my life?

But for the grace of God, there go I.

stnatina · Veteran Member

Amen and great thread!