I have always loved reading The Promises in our recovery meetings. They are the promises that start to come true for us after we finish working our ninth step. It is about making amends to the people we have harmed, letting go of past hurts, and forgiveness.
The Ninth Step Promises speak of the positive transformations that we will experience after doing the hard work of introspection with our sponsor. I love the “if we are painstaking…” meaning if we actually do the inside work, we will receive emotional and spiritual growth and know the benefits of making amends and taking responsibility for past actions.
Just the reading of The Promises in every meeting, brings me peace and settles me.
THE PROMISES:
“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us-sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.”
The work done in the 12-Steps is truly transformative. If we work them with our sponsors, it will be even better. A sponsor can guide us and point out different perspectives that we don’t necessarily see on our own. We are doing the work and God is doing the transforming.
Step into freedom.
Recovery works, if you work it.
I promise.
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Genesis 9:16
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