The “Worth” of Sobriety

Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.12x12, p. 160

When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I have to straighten out my life. When I go to a meeting, I take a coffee with sugar and milk, sometimes more than one. But at the collection time, I am either too busy to take money out of my purse, or I do not have enough, but I am there because I need this meeting. I heard someone suggest dropping the price of a beer into the basket, and I thought, that's too much! I almost never give one dollar. Like many others, I rely on the more generous members to finance the Fellowship. I forget that it takes money to rent the meeting room, buy my milk, sugar and cups. I will pay, without hesitation, ninety cents for a cup of coffee at a restaurant after the meeting; I always have money for that. So, how much is my sobriety and my inner peace worth?

            July 26^th  Daily Reflections  

I don’t drink coffee and put a dollar in the basket at every meeting.  Early in my recovery I had some impossible to make financial amends.  I donated that money to AA to help carry the message of recovery that I had been so freely given.

I am grateful to be financially independent and self-supporting  in my life today.  That is a lot better than how it used to be.