Gifts of sobriety
Sometimes, when I’m struggling with life and trying to get my stuff straightened out, I forget to look at the gifts I have received because of my sobriety. Rewards are sometimes small, sometimes profound. Regardless, they are there and they are many. I’m often overwhelmed by my character defects and how much work I still have to do. I have a tendency to concentrate on the negative….is it because I have so much trouble staying present? It’s definitely time for steps 6 and 7. Every once in awhile, it’s a good idea for me to do a quick inventory of my miracles.
Anywho, because I am sober and more dependable than I used to be, I was able to help out at my son’s curriculum/art fair this week. I was able to set up the computers and work with the kids on their Lego robots and discuss with school board members and parents what we’re doing with our enrichment and elective science/math program. How we’re teaching our rural kids about robotics, journalism, technology (basic computing to podcasting), and applied mathematics.
It’s hard to imagine that our successful little school, which is now a thriving part of our community, was being threatened with closure just a couple of short years ago. We have hardcore homeschoolers enrolled in our after school and elective classes. We now have university professors visiting our volunteer classes and trying to determine if our programs can be duplicated and offered to other area schools.
I feel really proud to be part of the success of my son’s school. I feel proud to be the kind of mother he can count on and look up to. That’s what sobriety has done for my family.
It’s funny, too, that just as I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed and sad (it’s a bummer running into a very good friend in the program and she smells like booze), a member of my homegroup (and wife of the guy I was helping out) walks up to me and gives me a big, genuine hug. Just in time….right when I needed it. The program works.
Tags:community, education, public, rural, schools Filed under family, general |3 Responses to “Gifts of sobriety”
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wow I finally I can comment. Rusty you are solid. I have smelt the booze too and all we can do is pray. You are a gift..
Cool, I can comment too. You are a gift
I try to remember, both for myself and my husband, to get my head out of the negative sometimes. It’s easy to forget that I’ve been a paragon of marital compassion and passion and love, and that he’s doing a lot better and trying really hard, when we’re dealing with the day to day mess we have to face.
Thanks for the inspiration, and I’ll be back to read more.