This morning I received this email and was so touched, I wanted to share. I realize it is not AA approved literature, but it does remind of us of some of the principles of AA. And, it shows a truly loving heart. Hope you all enjoy. Peace and joy to all..
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father" she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you...be there. Stay. You'll be glad you did.
We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.
Do not make any decisions when you are too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.
Hi Wanda;
I'm Marc and I'm Alcoholic.
Thank You for that... It was pretty special.
Evidently there are many ways one can do one's duty and be of service to others. :)
Why being there for a fellow human being, regardless if you know them or not ... exactly what we do here in AA ... we give without expect'n anything in return ... (exactly what the Bible sez to do if that interests anyone) ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
