Post 29
The
Freedom of RE-Covering
My mother was such a can-do person. It seemed like she was always busy doing projects along with the ever-present routine
chores. Her old treadle sewing machine
was rarely idle; and drawers throughout the house were steadily kept in order. Even our kitchen junk drawer’s miscellany was noticeably organized.
Especially fascinating was the manner in which she tackled reupholstering
jobs. Each step was methodically
ordered; and a lovely new piece of furniture would magically appear when she
was finished. We had a Victorian
horsehair, threadbare loveseat that was transformed into a luxurious olive
colored settee, later to be recovered, again, with fabric that appeared as fine
needlepoint. Once more, we had a
gorgeous addition to our living room!
As I recall Mom’s orderly progress in recovering furniture,
I am reminded of the Twelve Step Programs utilized by many who are working
their way toward freedom from addiction.
Each Step – when thoroughly experienced – moves the person forward
toward recovery. The old binding cover of addictive behaviors is removed – piece by
piece – and replaced with a fresh
covering of healthy perspectives.
For this freedom
month’s Blog, here is a list of “Freedoms” adapted from the basic Twelve
Steps. As you read each Freedom, below,
notice the progression of unbinding that can take place. May these Freedoms attained bring you and
your loved ones
RE-mission from
harmful ways, RE-newal of life as it is truly meant to be, and
RE-connection with
each other!
Freedoms of RE-Covery:
1. Freedom
from a power that can kill me
2. Freedom
to realize that there is, also, a power that wants me to live
3. Freedom
to turn to the power that wants me to
live
4. Freedom
to look realistically at myself
5. Freedom
to break the binding of secrecy and share with a trusted person a realistic
assessment of myself
6. Freedom
to be in readiness to tackle – and go about removing – my “defects of
character”
7. Freedom
to ask God to remove my shortcomings
8. Freedom
to get past denial and make a list of everyone to whom I have brought harm and to have the courage to be willing to
make amends
9. Freedom
to fix what I can with regard to the harms I have committed
10. Freedom to be steadily honest with myself so that I can continue to break free (and stay
free) from behaviors that could limit my recovery
11. Freedom for
me to live and grow within God’s will through my personal prayers and
meditations
12. Freedom to help others by sharing the message
of hope and recovery
May each of you experience new
and healthy freedoms that recovery can bring during this freedom-month of July!
For more information on the 12
Steps of Recovery, go to www.gamblersanonymous.org and www.gamanon.org
To learn more about problem
gambling and recovery issues, visit www.grmumc.org
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs
Director, Gambling Recovery
Ministries
