Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A wonderful gift


Before my home group meeting last night, my sponsor gave me a belated birthday gift.  We hadn't gotten together over the last couple of weeks for one reason or another.  So last night, before our study hour, I opened my gift.  It was a set of Father John Doe's Golden Books.

Father John Doe wrote his fourteen Golden Books back in the 1940's and 50's and early 60's. They are still being read and used by those in recovery programs today.  Here is the series:
1947 Spiritual Side
1948 Tolerance
1949 Attitudes
1950 Action
1951 Happiness
1952 Excuses
1953 Sponsorship
1954 Principles
1955 Resentments
1957 Decisions
1960 Passion
1963 Sanity
1964 Sanctity
1964 Living

I have read that the three most-published A.A. authors during the course of A.A.’s first sixty years were Bill W., Richmond Walker (who wrote the Twenty-Four Hours a Day book), and Father John Doe who was Ralph Pfau, author of the fourteen Golden Books.

I can't think of a more thoughtful gift.  I love books, and I love reading recovery books.  And I have a deep appreciation for the history of both AA and Al-Anon.  This gift will be treasured as long as I live.

I am going to close this post with a gratitude list for my heart is overflowing with gratitude today.  I'm grateful for:
  • The caring shown to me by those in the fellowship.  The love is appreciated and reciprocated.  We were brought together by God and that's pretty powerful.
  • My home group's decision to change meeting locations. Last night, we had a full kitchen with coffee and hot chocolate, a bathroom, comfortable furniture, and brightly decorated rooms.  We were all giddy with happiness.
  • Understanding that my wife doesn't want to attend the funeral of M. today.  She is going to the meeting tonight where she and M. first met.  
  • Being alive and of reasonably sound mind and body.  I find life in all its forms much more interesting than death.  My last chapter is still to be written.  
  • The sponsor-sponsee relationship.  I am straight up with my sponsor and he with me.  We may differ in opinions on some things, but I trust him without reservation.  That is a powerful thing that I can't say about most people.
I'm going to have a day in which I will need God with me.  All I have to do is be quiet in my mind, and He will be there.

21 comments:

  1. The golden books look likse something I would enjoy reading and get much out of, maybe amazon can help me out!

    Have a wonderful week.

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  2. Always interesting when I come to visit here. Seems like there is always much to learn.

    Hoping you felt connected throughout the day.

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  3. cool. your gratitude and joi de vivre are palpable. theses are the gifts of recovery. i am glad you are benefitting from them :)

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  4. Wow - sound like great books - I have never heard of them so I will have to check them out!

    Hope you had a nice birthday!

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  5. I too am having a day where I need God with me. Thanks for role modeling a healthy way to approach this day. Your gratitude is a beacon.

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  6. Thank you, Syd.

    Blessings and aloha...

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  7. Now Syd, SURELY you trust me without reservation. Laugh.

    You are loved. Enjoy the books.

    SB

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  8. You said "We may differ in opinions on some things, but I trust him without reservation. That is a powerful thing that I can't say about most people.". That is HUGE.

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  9. Love this and I am going to look into those books as well. Thanks for sharing a golden nugget!

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  10. Wow thanks Syd for posting this. I just read Father John Doe's bio in the link you sent....good reading.

    Glad you were blessed. :o)

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  11. Awwww - - - how nice! It's so nice to be loved unconditionally in spite of differences!
    Hugs,
    Anonymous #1

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  12. a wonderful glimpse into a healthy program. keep up the great life!

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  13. I love gifts like that. Shows so much thought and effort. What a treasure!

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  14. Good stuff, Syd. I'm reading Lois Remembers and really enjoying it.

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  15. you've got a long way to go before you write your final chapter. Enjoy life, it's rich in other pleasures besides booze.

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  16. I am going to check out those books. I love nothing more than reading in my quiet time so this will be wonderful. You are in the zone..no doubt :-D

    Namaste

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  17. that is a beautiful, thoughtful gift!

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  18. I have several people I trust implicitly in my life today. Needless to say, it didn't used to be like that.

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  19. We have a set of those books here in our home. They are wonderful. What a perfect gift from your sponsor.

    Glad you all are so happy with your new meeting room 'digs'.

    Loved your gratitude list.

    PG

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  20. Such a great gift! Some people are so good at picking just the right thing :)

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Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.