what brings this emotion to me ?
well i have helped a guy who came to aa 6 years ago, infact i met the guy in the prison when i was ruining the prison meeting for aa in my time at intergroup
anyway the guy was locked up for beating his new wifes boyfriend up and it was a hell of a nightmare scene, he was drunk, went around to his old home where his ex and her new partner were living and he took matters into his own hands out of the hurt and jealousy he was feeling and also because his ex wouldnt put up with him and his drinking anymore and he knew it
well the guy ended up getting locked up for his drunken brawl but worse was to come, he lost his job as he was inside, and futher more his ex wife got injunctions out on him so he could no longer see his kids or come within miles of her or her boyfriend etc
now sober the guy is a gentle giant he really is a caring man but his actions cost him much
so there is an outline of the sort of thing that happens in aa to people
now like i said he came to the meeting in prison and his life was over he had nothing anymore to live for of to look forward to
he was released after some months and he came along to the meetings he was bitter and angry at what was happening to him but thanks to aa we managed to get him to see its his own fault etc
he fought like hell over his chidren and i could understand him so much as i lost my own kids through my drinking and ended up in prison just the same
but for me i got my kids back after 12 months or so once the powers that be could see i had changed, and it was clear as i was not getting arrested anymore for my drunkenss and i was holding down a job at last also they could see the difference in me as i was sober now and not stinking of booze and sluring my speach or getting very angry at them
so for me it was easy so long as i followed what aa had shown me
now this guy had to endure 5 years without his kids, that is 5 years of heartache for him and torture however he did learn to cope like we all have to but it still doesnt mean the problem goes away or your going to be happy joyus and free about
well 5 years on and the guy has a good job he has a new wife his life is so so different from the drunk i met in prison
and now today finally after all theses years he has been able to get to see his kids and they are all spending some real time back with there dad again
now i remember just how lost this guy was at one point in his life time and all i could do was try to give him hope that one day things would all turn out ok
well it certainly has and i am just amazed at how aa transforms us and gives us our lives back it really is amazing and i just wanted to share this tale
as its what aa is all about giving out hope and being there always ready to help those who wish to have it
right now that is over its back out there and see who else we can help eh ?
