Two days ago I read a friend’s blog about her progress on her own recovery and was absolutely blown away at the power of her story!  It’s been amazing to see her progress and watch the 12 steps working in her life.  She is completely different from when I started following her blog and I’m sure there was plenty of growth before that and certainly there will be plenty of growth moving forward!  THAT is the power of the 12 step program!  I am not kidding, it literally has the power to change who we are.  We become different people than we once were.  We’re less selfish.  We’re more confident.  We’re free of our burdens and able to turn our attention to the needs of others.  We heal.  We grow.  We share our stories with others.  If you’ve been stuck on your own program or have wondered if a 12 step can work for you, read this snapshot into the journey of my friend’s recovery.  It is amazing!

Last night I shared at my Celebrate Recovery meeting that I have felt for a really long time that I am on a tight rope. 

There are boxes of all this stuff I carry with me. And I do my best everyday to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. But the rope never ends. And the boxes are heavy. And my arms are tired. I have to keep my balance while new boxes are added. I have to keep my head up because I’ve scared of heights. I have to just keep moving because if I stop, I just may fall apart and everything else with it. BUT…
 

what’s happened since I started step 4 is:

1. The tight rope doesn’t have to feel like it’s over the Grand Canyon. It can be just off the ground. If fact it doesn’t have to be a tight rope at all. I can step off it and be on ground and feel secure in my footing. 
2. I can put boxes down and not carry them any more as my heart heals and I talk about my past hurts, hang ups and habits.
3. I don’t have to carry this alone and I wasn’t created by God to do so. ‘As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another’ Proverbs 27:17
4. I can ask for help when I need it. And people help when they know you need it and when they know exactly what you need. 
5. I can put down the boxes of things that I can not change. I’ve carried boxes that were not mine in an effort to control how someone would react or feel, I’ve helped someone avoid consequences and soften their fall and I have gotten involved in solving other people’s problems. 
6. I can put down the boxes where I have no ownership, no part. Celebrate Recovery rewrote step 4 for those who have been sexually or physically abused….’Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, realizing all wrongs can be forgiven. renounce the lie that the abuse was our fault’
7. I can sit and rest. I am weary. I can give God my burdens. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Step 4

it’s not easy but wow oh wow the healing that happens during step 4 is A M A Z I N G.

If you want to see more you can follow her blog at:  https://thisgirlsjourneytoserenity.wordpress.com

If you’re stuck — keep moving (and get a sponsor if you don’t have one yet)!  If you’re interested, check out SAPP.org.  If you have questions, email me at himynameismike.org@gmail.com or post a comment below.  It will change your life if you let it.

My name is Mike