June 30 - Strength Through Sacrifice

What you give up for the sake of others is never lost — it's an investment in something greater. Corey closes out the month on sacrifice, service, and what it means to be a small part of a great whole. What I give up for the sake of others often strengthens what matters most. Sacrifice is not lost. It is an investment in something greater. Corey opens with Big Book page 97 — helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery; a kindly act once in a while isn't enough, you have to act the good Samaritan every day if need be. Then the promises of Step 12, the version that doesn't sound like a promise at first: it may mean the loss of many nights' sleep, interruptions to your business, your phone jangling at any hour. His sponsor has done every bit of that for him — police courts, late-night calls — and now Corey's job is to do it for someone else. The way to thank him is to pass it on. From there he goes deep into the traditions — the benign dictator who has to start something, the elder statesman and the bleeding deacon, the group conscience that meets in the middle, and Tradition One in its long form: each member is but a small part of a great whole; our common welfare comes first. When he went back out for four years and came back, the group was still there, the same people still in the room. The realization that dawns: he's just a small part of something with a primary purpose — carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. He ties it home through the book study he and some friends started, now becoming a meeting, and the podcast itself — how Pastor Mike's invitation came right as he was first opening the Bible, and how this work has pushed him deeper into Scripture, and his son along with him. Page 46 lands the close: God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. Seeking looks different for everyone, but if it were him starting out, he'd start with prayer and meditation and go from there. The Father uses surrendered desires to build unity and lasting strength. Christian recovery | 12-step faith | sobriety devotional | sacrifice | service | the traditions | group conscience | small part of a great whole | addiction recovery | AA and faith | sober living Daily entries at dailyripples.com — [email protected]  Daily Ripples connects recovery principles with the life of faith. New episodes every day.