One of the special things about this program of recovery is how we develop such friendships. The people in meetings are there sharing with me and I with them. It creates a bond. And the most precious bond of all is that between a sponsor and a sponsee.
I have written before about what a great sponsor I have. I knew after meeting this person that he would be the one that I would ask. And I did that very night when we first talked. He knows a lot about me, as I do about him. When he told me last week that he is planning to move to the left coast in the fall, it really hit home how much a part of my life this person has become.
He gave me a gift at our home group meeting for the boat. It is something that he crafted with his own hands. It is a kind of talisman that is supposed to keep me safe while on the water. I am most grateful for the thoughtfulness and the symbolism of giving something to the boat. He called this gift a cerci. I had not heard the term before, but it is quite common in the south. Another spelling in SC might be sercy. It is a gift that is unexpected and given out of friendship. One important clarification about a sercy is that it is
not meant to be reciprocated. It is just an “I made this and thought of you” type of gift. I think it is quintessentially southern – a charming colloquialism, steeped in tradition, for a thoughtful gesture.
I cannot count the many cerci gifts that I have received from my sponsor. I truly appreciate all his wisdom and years in program. And all has been given out of friendship.
