an NA sponsor is a member of Narcotics Anonymous, living our program of recovery, who is willing to build a special, supportive, one-on-one relationship with us.
IP No. 11, Sponsorship, Revised
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What is a sponsor? You know: That nice person with whom you had coffee after your first meeting. That generous soul who keeps sharing recovery experience free of charge. The one who keeps amazing you with stunning insight regarding your character defects. The one who keeps reminding you to finish your Fourth Step, who listens to your Fifth Step, and who doesnt tell anyone how weird you are.
Its pretty easy to start taking all this stuff for granted once were used to someone being there for us. We may run wild for a while and tell ourselves, Ill call my sponsor later, but right now I have to clean the house, go shopping, chase that attractive... And so we end up in trouble, wondering where we went wrong.
Our sponsor cant read minds. Its up to us to reach out and ask for help. Whether we need help with our steps, a reality check to help us straighten out our screwy thinking, or just a friend, its our job to make the request. Sponsors are warm, wise, wonderful people, and their experience with recovery is oursall we have to do is ask.
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Just for today: Im grateful for the time, the love, and the experience my sponsor has shared with me. Today, I will call my sponsor.
Yes so true,we are told that those who get the most out of Narcotics Anonymous Program are those to whom sponsorship is important.My first sponsor,from another fellowship,84 years old,hard core,would take me to meetings and constantly challenge me to move forward in recovery.He died 3 years later in 1987 and though he wasn't much about steps and traditions, he lived the program by his actions and loving and caring manner for the still sick and suffering. He embodied spiritual principles in a gruff and loving way...Bob I love you man,I wil never forget you!Today my sponsor and grandsponsor are not only those who work thru the steps .traditions and concepts with me but we share a tremendously close spiritual connection that keeps us moving forward with each other,we truly do share love of each other.......
-- Edited by MIKEF on Tuesday 8th of February 2011 09:16:39 PM
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
My sponsor is around 63 and I am 24. This man knows much more than I think he knows. He is very hardcore in his recovery and I meet with him tonight. I look forward to a good meeting. We meet outside of meetings and talk the steps. He is a wonderful sponsor and my gansponsor comes and talks steps too. I am so lucky to be surrounded by spiritual giants. I know that NA works. A Sponsor is someone you can trust with your inner most secrets. A sponsor is someone you can love for their connection with the program. I hope you find a great sponsor. My best sponsor was already someone I was friends with in the fellowship before he became my sponsor. He was someone who just kept showing up and kept sitting next to me in meetings. One day I asked him to be my sponsor in front of 20 people during one my group shares. The look on his face was priceless. Find a sponsor you can trust and understands you and you will go far in NA.
