Step 7 - Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

I’ve always had difficulty asking for help.

I don’t want to bother others or be an inconvenience.

I don’t want others to know that I can’t handle situations on my own - that I am weak.

Step 4 allowed me to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself - allowed me to identify and understand my defects of character.

I now realize that I didn’t feel I was worthy of help from others - or my Higher Power.

Today, I realize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

By the time I reached Step 7, my connection with my Higher Power had strengthened.

I found myself not only willing to turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I understood him (Step 3), but also to consciously make the effort daily - I just wasn’t always successful.

With this, humbly asking Him to remove my shortcomings did not come easily.

I don’t think the issue was that I didn’t want my shortcomings removed or that I doubted my Higher Power would be there for me - but it was the “what ifs” that slowed my progress.

What if I ask Him to remove my shortcomings but I find myself slipping into old behaviors?

What if I have nothing left after my shortcomings are removed - who is the person I will become?

After all, my shortcomings weren’t learned overnight - most are defense mechanism crafted over a lifetime.

Through attending Al-Anon meetings and hearing the wisdom of others in the program, I’ve learned that if I am struggling with a step - I need to visit the preceding steps again.

For me, to truly gain comfort with Step 7 - I had to revisit Step 2 and Step 3 while making my request.

I needed to remind myself that my Higher Power could restore me to sanity - that I had made a commitment to turn my life over.

By revisiting these steps, I was finally able to ask for my shortcomings to be removed.

When in doubt, I have learned the answer is to ask.

The following are Step 7 related quotes from Courage To Change - One Day At A Time In Al-Anon II.

“I accept the fact that I need help in being restored to sanity, and that I cannot achieve this without help.” - The Dilemma Of The Alcoholic Marriage

“Before sunlight can shine through the window, the blinds must be raised.” - American Proverb

“Humbly’ means seeing myself in true relation to my fellow man and to God.” - Lois’ Story

“We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us - how we can take it, what we do with it - and that is what really counts in the end.” - Joseph Fort Newton

“Humility will help us see ourselves in true perspective and keep our minds open to the truth.” - Alcoholism, the Family Disease

“If my problems have brought me to prayer, then they have served a purpose.” - As We Understood….

“We didn’t necessarily get the results we wanted, but somehow we always seemed to get what we needed.” …In All Our Affairs

“Even if we have struggled with the idea of a Higher Power, we have learned that asking for help works…” …..In All Our Affairs

I hope that one of these quotes connected with you.

Would you like to have your experience and words of encouragement posted?

Send me your thoughts: support@lovinganalcoholic.com

As I will leave each post; If you, or someone you know, loves an alcoholic or addict, I would encourage you to find a local Al-Anon 12 step meeting to attend. This is your first step towards healing.