September 18
They Remember
The people closest to us may be the least impressed by our new understanding. We come home from a meeting with something wonderful to share, and they want to know whether we remembered what we promised. It can feel unfair. We know something has changed inside us. Why can’t they see it?
They may remember earlier promises as clearly as we remember last night’s meeting. Recovery gives us a chance to understand that hesitation without demanding that it disappear. A kept promise may seem small beside a spiritual awakening, but it gives someone else something they can actually experience. Over time, ordinary reliability can make room for trust. We cannot decide when another person will feel safe believing us. We can begin to appreciate what it has cost them to hope before.
What might I understand if I stopped treating someone’s caution as an insult?
They are allowed to take their time.
For the A.A. nerds: Alcoholics Anonymous, “Into Action,” p. 83.