Zach of potatoes is home! They never found what it was, but his fever is gone and he's none the worse for wear. Thanks for the prayers!
Every month I like to post something on the step corresponding with the month. There are 12 months and 12 steps; you get the idea. Step six of the recovery program ETA states, "We were entirely ready to have the old HP remove all of our defects of character."
When most alcoholics and addicts come into recovery they either believe that they are bad or have trouble believing alcoholism is a disease. This is why nobody should work all 12 steps in 20 minutes. If you are bad you are not going to be asking to have all your defects of character removed; there would be nothing left! Let the fog clear and identify your Higher Power, then work the rest of the steps.
Even people that have been around for a bit often misunderstand step six. Many think that it states, "We are entirely ready to eliminate every single, solitary, defect of our own character, forever and ever, amen. And, I'm gonna do it all by my big self! I don't need any help, either." I can't tell you the number of times I've heard someone say that they are trying to get rid of their defects. Excuse me, but didn't we quit playing God already? His is the only name I see in that step.
Instead, we are to practice new behaviors; behaviors that our sponsor has suggested for us. We are to put new thoughts, words and actions in place of the old, defective ones. For example: A friend of mine, Ken, has a tendency to flirt with women other than his wife. Okay, this is a defect of character. (Dangerous, too. I know people that have suffered serious bodily injury as a result of this defect of character.) His sponsor suggested that, every time Ken was tempted to flirt with another, he call his wife and tell her that he loves her. Ken does this new behavior, which is his responsibility in working step six, and lets the old HP take care of the old. Ken took no action in regards to stopping flirting, he put a lot of effort into calling his wife. The flirting drifted away and the marriage flourished.
When we first get to recovery we are told, "You can't fix what is broken (you) with what is broken (you)." This holds true no matter which step you are on. If you keep trying to remove your own defects, you've probably got some work to do in pruning your ego.
Have a good and sober day.
Every month I like to post something on the step corresponding with the month. There are 12 months and 12 steps; you get the idea. Step six of the recovery program ETA states, "We were entirely ready to have the old HP remove all of our defects of character."
When most alcoholics and addicts come into recovery they either believe that they are bad or have trouble believing alcoholism is a disease. This is why nobody should work all 12 steps in 20 minutes. If you are bad you are not going to be asking to have all your defects of character removed; there would be nothing left! Let the fog clear and identify your Higher Power, then work the rest of the steps.
Even people that have been around for a bit often misunderstand step six. Many think that it states, "We are entirely ready to eliminate every single, solitary, defect of our own character, forever and ever, amen. And, I'm gonna do it all by my big self! I don't need any help, either." I can't tell you the number of times I've heard someone say that they are trying to get rid of their defects. Excuse me, but didn't we quit playing God already? His is the only name I see in that step.
Instead, we are to practice new behaviors; behaviors that our sponsor has suggested for us. We are to put new thoughts, words and actions in place of the old, defective ones. For example: A friend of mine, Ken, has a tendency to flirt with women other than his wife. Okay, this is a defect of character. (Dangerous, too. I know people that have suffered serious bodily injury as a result of this defect of character.) His sponsor suggested that, every time Ken was tempted to flirt with another, he call his wife and tell her that he loves her. Ken does this new behavior, which is his responsibility in working step six, and lets the old HP take care of the old. Ken took no action in regards to stopping flirting, he put a lot of effort into calling his wife. The flirting drifted away and the marriage flourished.
When we first get to recovery we are told, "You can't fix what is broken (you) with what is broken (you)." This holds true no matter which step you are on. If you keep trying to remove your own defects, you've probably got some work to do in pruning your ego.
Have a good and sober day.
"Can't fix what is broken..." - good one! Glad Zach is okay :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that Zach is doing well. I know that I will never remove a defect, but I can be aware of them and ask God to have them removed. Awareness has helped a lot and has helped me to feel much more humble.
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