Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Don't give up

I am constantly reminded that life is truly one day at a time.  Yesterday the vet called with good news. Timmi was doing much better.   His renal values went to normal, and he ate a good meal at the vet's.  Knowing that all this can change at any moment,  I opted to bring him home and continue to flush out his kidneys using subcutaneous fluids here.  So he is happy to be home and ate about a pound of deli ham last night (his choice of a homecoming meal).  We don't know whether the kidneys will continue to function, but we are willing to do what we can to help him.  He was wagging and playing with his hedgehog last night before bedtime. This morning,  he ate a pound of thin sliced turkey.  Looks as if we are cooking for three for a while.

I went to my home group last night.  The fellow who cried because he had difficulty reading has been coming regularly. He now reads and shares regularly, saying that he is grateful to have found a group that has accepted him.  He handed out a daily reader last night to each of us. In his shy way, he said that he ordered these as a gift to us.  It didn't matter that it was about Jesus.  Just the gesture was so touching to me.  He didn't give up and has found a place that feels like home to him. 

There were a couple of newcomers to this group.  One I had met on my trip a few weeks ago when I sailed south.  He is in the "other" fellowship.  This was his first Al-Anon meeting, and he was doing his best to be the center of attention. I kept thinking of the Big Book's familiar phrase about being an actor who wants to run the show.  It is interesting to see how egos present themselves when someone is taken out of their familiar environment.  He definitely has a lot of alcoholism in his family, so hopefully he will learn some of the gentle ways of Al-Anon if he continues to come to meetings.  Maybe he will find something that helps him to not only stay sober but live sober as well. 

The other newcomer was there because his brother received his fourth DUI and tried to run over someone while drunk.  He is now in jail facing all kinds of charges.  The newcomer is struggling with detaching with love and establishing boundaries.  He loves his brother but realizes that he can't help him.  Struggling with sadness and anger, the newcomer doesn't want to give up on himself.  He has reached out a hand, and a bunch of us took it.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring.   I am truly grateful for events unfolding today.  I'm not giving up on the old dog, on the newcomers at meetings, or on life.

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

16 comments:

  1. smiles. appreciate today for what it is....

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  2. And sometimes, the wisdom is in letting go...

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  3. My beloved cat Sully died of renal failure... She retained water and became very swollen... I still miss her. I'm glad you're able to do what you can for your dog. much love, Syd.

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  4. to somewhat echo Ms. Moon...just that they are there is wisdom as well!

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  5. Glad to hear your dog is doing better!

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  6. This hit home with me today, because of a personal issue.
    I'm delighted to hear that your old Timmi is doing much better.

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  7. I'm really happy to hear that you furry friend is doing a little better. When they play with toys, it always makes me feel good becaues it feels like they feel a little better within themselves. I worry when my cat Moo doesn't play because she is a big player. She jumps and bounds and leaps and chases things so when she is just sitting there I think uh oh, what's wrong. Cooking for three sounds like a lovely idea. Makes you really feel like a little family more and more, not that you don't feel that way already, if you know what I mean.
    *hugs*
    Sarah

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  8. I'm smiling about the guy from the "other fellowship" wanting to be the center of attention. I've come across that a few times in meetings. Maybe it's the same guy..lol

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  9. I cringe when I hear that one of our AA members has acted like you described, Syd. You can surely see why we call it an "ego deflating" program! (Sounds like that part hasn't reached him yet.)

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  10. Syd - I'm sorry I haven't been by more often. It seems I didn't have Reader set to follow your blog. That is now rectified.

    I'm glad you have more time with your dog. I know what it's like to lose one, so I tend to spoil mine quite a bit :-)

    I was sitting in group therapy a week ago, listening to a woman who had a recent DUI (and had some before that) and doesn't remember the accident. She was bemoaning the fact that her husband won't let her have the keys to any of the cars because he's afraid she'll go to the liquor store. She also admitted to drinking with her depression and anxiety meds. But she was adamant when she said, "I don't have a drinking problem."

    I thought, "Wow. Your husband sure thinks you do. So does the highway patrol."

    Denial is a very sad thing. Living with someone who is in denial is frustrating. It was so hard to watch my daughter destroying herself while denying she had a problem. At least we had those last 90 days of her life in which she was living sober. Those were the best days!

    Peace - D

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  11. Hey that guy comes to my meeting too :-)
    I'm so glad that Timmi is haveing good days right now, dogs so live in the now don't they?

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  12. So happy to hear about your dog feeling better. Animals make us wear our hearts on our sleeves whether we want to or not. I attended an NA meeting last week and there was man that used to come to the Thursday night meeting I used to host. His pregnant wife has thrown him out because he started using again, but his ego was filling the room, and he wanted to be the center of attention. I hope someday he can accept some humility because it would be so nice to see him succeed....

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  13. A woman I haven't met yet in my ACA group shared her heart wrenching experience of losing her 14 year old pup at my meeting last night...she was openly crying as she told us how she helped to ease his passing & expressed how raw the pain still is, especially since she is single w no kids....he was her life. It's such a comfort knowing I have this unconditional support in recovery & amazing I could hug a total stranger & tell her Im praying for her & her dog...& feel like she's a new "sister" :) I have a teacher named Linda Anderson..a best selling author who writes books on our "angel animals"...google her...she writes AMAZING books...I pray for your "angel animal" :)

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  14. As someone from the "other fellowship" I have found so much in Al-Anon that enhances my life and strengthens the tools I use to stay sober. Al-Anon helps me get in touch with what I consider core issues for me. Don't give up hope, I think that's what you are saying. That's what I always need to hear. Thank you, hopeful post today.

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  15. The bit about the gentleman who gifted you all with the daily reader really touched me. You all are probably the best thing that has happened to him in a really long time.

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  16. I'm glad to hear that the fellow who struggled to read is back.

    I will be thinking of sweet Timmi.

    Love you.

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