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August

August 28

AGOSTO 28

Hindi ako kailanman nangahas na magtiwala sa ibang tao tulad ng pagtitiwala ko sa aking unang Al-Anon Sponsor. Sa pag-aalinlangan ng kumpiyansa sa sarili, hiniling ko sa kanya na i-sponsor ako: Gulong-gulo ako, gusto niya ba ako? Sigurado akong tatanggihan niya ako dahil akala ko hindi ako karapat-dapat na iligtas. Ang kanyang positibo
nagulat talaga ako sa tugon.

Malumanay, ginabayan niya ako sa mga Hakbang. Desperado akong gumaan ang pakiramdam ko kaya handa akong subukan ang anumang tool o ideya ng Al-Anon na iminungkahi niya. Nabuhay ako, huminga, at kumain ng Al-Anon.

Isang malungkot na araw tinawagan ko siya, sumisigaw sa kawalan ng pag-asa na hindi ko na mararamdamang bumuti pa. Ang sinabi niya sa kritikal na oras na iyon ay, “Wala akong kakilala na gustong gawin ang programa na tulad mo.” Lumakas ang aking loob! Sinabi niya sa akin ang hindi ko masabi sa sarili ko, ngunit alam ko na ito ay totoo-ako ay lubos na handa. Sa sandaling iyon ng pagkilala alam kong magiging okay ako, dahil mayroon ako kung ano ang kinakailangan. Sa kalaunan, ang kanyang halimbawa ay nakatulong sa akin na matutong magbigay ng ganoong uri ng pagkilala sa aking sarili.

Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon. Nagtiwala ako noon. At bilang isang resulta, nalaman ko na ako ay karapat-dapat ding iligtas!

Paalala sa Araw na Ito

Ang pag-aaral na pahalagahan ang aking sarili ay maaaring magsimula sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob na maghanap, at gumamit, ng isang Sponsor.

“Walang anumang bagay na ginagawa natin, gaano man kabuti, ang magagawa nang mag-isa; samakatuwid, tayo ay naligtas sa pamamagitan ng pag-ibig.”

Reinhold Niebuhr

English Translation

AUGUST 28

I had never dared to trust another person the way I trusted my first Al-Anon Sponsor. With
faltering self-confidence I had asked her to sponsor me: I was a mess, would she have me? I
was sure she would turn me down because I thought I was not worth saving. Her positive
response really took me by surprise.

Gently, she guided me through the Steps. I was so desperate to feel better that I was
willing to try whatever Al-Anon tool or idea she suggested. I lived, breathed, and ate Al-
Anon.

One lonely day I phoned her, crying out in despair that I’d never get the hang of feeling
better. What she said at that critical time was, “I don’t know anyone who is as willing to
work the program as you are.” My spirits soared! She had said to me what I couldn’t say to
myself, but I knew that it was true-I was very willing. In that moment of acknowledgment
I knew I’d be okay, because I had what it took. In time, her example helped me learn to give
that kind of acknowledgment to myself.

I had taken a chance. I had trusted. And as a result, I learned that I was worth saving!

Today’s Reminder

Learning to value myself can begin by having the courage to find, and use, a Sponsor.
“Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love.”

Reinhold Niebuhr