"Be great in act, as you have been in thought. Suit the action to the word, and the word to the action.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Paul writing to the church at Rome.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of god." ROMANS 12:2 NKJV
North of the house I live in there is a barn. My great-grandfathers, great uncles, and grandfather built that barn. I have many fond memories from childhood that take place in that barn. From early childhood I remember my grandmother milking her beautiful jersey cows morning and night. I remember the many cats that lived on the farm, and how at milking time they would all be waiting just on the other side of the manure trough for the fresh warm milk that my granny would give them. Some would stand on their hind legs and drink as granny would squeeze it straight from the udder.
There is a special post in that barn that I can relate to. At various times of my life, granny would take a pairing knife that was used to open feed sacks and cut bailer twine, and have me stand next to that post and put a notch where the top of my head was. My first notch was when I was about three years old. I went to Germany for 4 years with my parents and came back in 1953 and was notched. Was notched again in 1954 and then went to France for 3 years. Came home in 1957 and was notched again at 11years old. I was notched again at 12, 14, 17, and at 20 just before I went to Vietnam. When I returned home from Vietnam granny put the last notch on the post.
I quit growing physically many years ago, but spiritually I am learning that if I continue to feed my spirit, I will continue to grow. I have a new post now days that stands as a support in my heart. Every now and then the Father pulls out His pairing knife and has me stand and be measured. I am still growing! This September 12, by the grace of God, my family, friends, church, and A.A., I will be 7 years clean and sober. It will be a small notch on my post, because I know that it is only by the grace of God, and taking life one day at a time, am I able to stand at all. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself......................JRE
As faith grows, so does inner security. The vast underlying fear of nothingness commences to subside. We of A.A find that our basic antidote for fear is a spiritual awakening.
BILL W. Grapevine, January 1962
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Paul writing to the church at Rome.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of god." ROMANS 12:2 NKJV
North of the house I live in there is a barn. My great-grandfathers, great uncles, and grandfather built that barn. I have many fond memories from childhood that take place in that barn. From early childhood I remember my grandmother milking her beautiful jersey cows morning and night. I remember the many cats that lived on the farm, and how at milking time they would all be waiting just on the other side of the manure trough for the fresh warm milk that my granny would give them. Some would stand on their hind legs and drink as granny would squeeze it straight from the udder.
There is a special post in that barn that I can relate to. At various times of my life, granny would take a pairing knife that was used to open feed sacks and cut bailer twine, and have me stand next to that post and put a notch where the top of my head was. My first notch was when I was about three years old. I went to Germany for 4 years with my parents and came back in 1953 and was notched. Was notched again in 1954 and then went to France for 3 years. Came home in 1957 and was notched again at 11years old. I was notched again at 12, 14, 17, and at 20 just before I went to Vietnam. When I returned home from Vietnam granny put the last notch on the post.
I quit growing physically many years ago, but spiritually I am learning that if I continue to feed my spirit, I will continue to grow. I have a new post now days that stands as a support in my heart. Every now and then the Father pulls out His pairing knife and has me stand and be measured. I am still growing! This September 12, by the grace of God, my family, friends, church, and A.A., I will be 7 years clean and sober. It will be a small notch on my post, because I know that it is only by the grace of God, and taking life one day at a time, am I able to stand at all. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself......................JRE
As faith grows, so does inner security. The vast underlying fear of nothingness commences to subside. We of A.A find that our basic antidote for fear is a spiritual awakening.
BILL W. Grapevine, January 1962
