One Day at a Time in Al-Anon:
A compulsive drinker can never be set free from his sickness by treating him with contempt. Yet isn’t that what many of us do? When the drinker’s dignity and quality are hidden under sodden incoherence or violence, it isn’t easy to remember that this helpless creature is a child of God, hurt, sensitive, sick with guilt, in need of our compassion.
Difficult as it is, our own progress must begin with correcting our attitudes toward the alcoholic when he or she is in the acute stages of the illness.
Emotional crises happen, too, after the alcoholic has become sober. We owe it to ourselves to meet these in the same way as though actual drinking had caused the disturbance. Nothing constructive results from meeting anger with anger; nobody wins the battle in which control is lost.
Today’s Reminder:
Quiet poise can be acquired; and it does have a decided effect on the drinker, who, even in an alcoholic fog, senses a change in us. But even more important, relaxing saves wear and tear on our emotions and preserves our own dignity.
“Let me turn my thoughts away from the torments of the troublesome moment, and think of Your ever-present help and support.”