“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…” Now what?
How can we enjoy this Christmas season. This is the question in many minds right now. For many, the answer is one asked excitedly because of their faith. This is a joyful time of year for many. A time for celebration and happy thoughts. A time of appearing in their church one of their two times in the year. The other being Easter.
But, and it is a very big ‘but,’ for many there is real apprehension for what will follow this Christmas season of depression and despair. Instead of a new beginning, the dreadful thought of “Oh, crap. What now?” The media has been full of cheer and joy showing families together preparing to worship and/or open presents. But, to many, a loved one has been lost due to death or separation and joy is not involved in the thought process right now. This “lost” loved one may take the form of another person. The “lost” loved one may also be in the form of a bottle or drug. Yes, losing drugs, be they in liquid or powder form, is just as powerful as losing a human or a pet.
For those who have made it so far, the pressure is either lifting or soon will be! Another year will pass before advertisers and media shower us again with how happy we should all be because the ‘Yuletide season’ is all about ‘family time.’ Just how happy can one be if being ordered to enjoy something is thrown at us around the clock? Difficult for many and impossible for some.
We have gone through a month of feeling guilty because we no longer had a family to shower with love or even to provide some little gift. Many have made it through this time without the sedative of alcohol and/or drugs to help ease the pain.
Rejoice! Now is just the right time to dive head first into our recovery program and work it 24/7/365. Don’t try to work it perfectly. Just, work it to the best of your ability. This, also, takes some of the pressure off. Trying for perfection leads to grief and despair if we falter at all. Working to the best of our ability leads to continuing progress because a mistake is not fatal to our sobriety.
Now comes the question of how do we do it? I always start my day by saying “Thank you God” for the new day. A new day in which to continue working my program. Then, I say my first of many shortened versions of the AA 3rd Step. This is simply saying “God help me!” Immediately after saying this, I STEP BACK AND LET HIM! How do I know if I am letting Him? Because I am working my program the best that I can. Thus, if it FEELS right it IS right. Simple as that! If there is any apprehension at all, I step back and reconsider.
Why, you might ask? When I ask my Higher Power for help, I do not expect Him to answer me with language. My Higher Power, who I now choose to call God, answers with intuitions, feelings, and ‘vibes.’ That is how I know that if it feels right it is right. If it seems shaky, it is time to slow down and reconsider. See? This is a very simple program for very complicated folks. Not always easy, but very simple.
Merry Christmas and enjoy the season, no matter what your faith is or isn’t. It is one of giving and sharing. Gift others with happiness, joy, and freedom to accept your gift or not. God bless you all!
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Lovely post thank you. Christmas can be such a painful time of year for so many. It has reinforced to me the need to ask my Higher Power for support and remember I’m not alone.
Thank you for the kind words. Whenever I come to a fork in my road of life, I simply say “God, help me,” and then get out of the way and let Him. This is very simple to do but not always easy. The trick is to get out of the way after asking for the help and not try to direct my Higher Power. It takes a little practice but is well worth it very quickly. Have a blessed day – Jim