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 (212) 870-3400
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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 Building New Memories In Recovery
Those of us in the recovery process are people with sometimes very painful memories. We remember our losses. We remember our wrongs. We remember the wrongs that have been committed against us. It is part of the hard work of recovery to face these memories, to grieve them and to come to terms with them. But sometimes the painful memories become so powerful that it seems like nothing will be able to compete with them for our attention. The memory of pain consumes us. In times like this we need a powerful new memory that can challenge the dominance of our painful memories.
Our Higher Power invites us to receive a new and startling memory. "Remember me," God says, "Eat the bread and drink the wine and remember that I gave my life for you. I gave my life because I love you. Take this new memory. Allow it to shape the way you think about yourself and about life and about me. Allow yourself to remember me."
It is not that the memory of Gods' sacrificial love erases all of our painful memories. Painful memories still have to be faced and grieved if healing is to come. But God offers us in himself a memory powerful enough to compete with the most powerful of painful memories. The death-grip, which painful memories have on our attention, can be broken by the powerful knowledge of God's love.
I know that many of you love me and that is of great comfort, but you all have your own pains to deal with. God on the other hand is perfect and therefore is available to you and I every hour, every day.
Seeing ourselves through our own memories, with our own eyes can cause us to slip into deep depression. But when we look at ourselves through the eyes of the one who has created us, that's when true recovery begins.
If you are having a hard time with looking at yourself in the mirror, try turning from your own reflection and see the reflection of God in your recovery.
Try this. Take the AA Big Book, the NA Basic Text, or the Bible and sit down with a pencil and underline all the places where it mentions that God hates you. Guess what? You won't find it anywhere. There are some of our behaviors He hates because he knows how they will hurt us.
That’s a Fathers love for His children.
Now sharpen that pencil up good because you are going to need it. Underline every sentence that refers to how much God cares, loves and wants to guide you into a better way of living. You may go through several pencils before you are half way through.
Do you have painful memories? Why not start building new life giving memories today by trusting God and loving people. God has the tools and wants to start your new life project today. Start by remembering who He is and that He is in control.
Blessings & Progress
Monty 'man
I have come from a painful & destructive past. My behaviors almost killed me. I recognize my folly but do not turn back to bask in defeat. Instead I choose to keep my eye on the prize, ever looking forward towards the daily goal of my sobriety and deeper relationship with God. I will bask in His love today, all day.
© Recovery Times. All rights reserved. Recovery Times has but one purpose and goal, and that is to carry the message of 12-Step Recovery -- as written and practiced in its founding organization's (AA's) unaltered 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts for World Service, but not limited to only AA-sanctioned material (such as The Holy Bible, The Koran, The Upanishads, etc.). Recovery Times is not affiliated nor approved with or by any 12 Step organizations. Recovery Times publishes only each author's opinions or positions on all matters, and doesn't necessarily agree or disagree with anyone on anything. Our Principles and Protocols are expressed beautifully in the Prayer of St. Francis (p.99, 12-Steps and 12-Traditions). Site best viewed at 1024 x 768 with Internet Explorer
© STS Recovery Publications 2004 / Monty Dale Meyer All Rights Reserved.
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