I am thankful...

... to be released from drugs and alcohol, but I am more thankful to be bound by the   

    resposibilities of sobriety.

... to be bound by the responsibilities of sobriety, but I am more thankful for the returning

    possession of my sanity.

... for the possession of a little sanity, but I am more thankful for the hope of an eventual

    peace of mind.

... to turn my back upon despair, but I am more thankful to turn my face toward hope.

... to be free from the undefined fears with which I travelled dark yesterdays, but I am more 

    thankful to walk in the shadow of known fears today.

... to be concerned about my honesty, but I am more thankful to be honest with myself 

    about my dishonesty.

... to lose my cankerous and cantankerous jealousy of the gifts of others, but I am more 

    thankful to gain a glowing appreciation of these gifts.

... to be released from spiteful envy of the talents of others, but I am even more thankful 

    to be desirous of even meagerely emulating those virtues.

... to be unfettered from the pain of pride, but I am even more thankful to walk straight in

    humility.

... to struggle against selfishness, but I am even more thankful to strain toward fellowship.

... to be emancipated from hate, but I am even more thankful to be enslaved by love.

... to learn that others may love me, but I am even more thankful to love others.

... for the challenges of the future, but I am more thankful for the very bitter lessons of the 

    past.

 

    THEREFORE THIS NIGHT GOD, TEACH ME SECOND TO BE ABLE TO LAUGH, BUT TEACH ME FIRST TO REMEMBER THAT I HAVE CRIED. TEACH ME SECOND TO HELP OTHERS, BUT TEACH ME FIRST TO HARM NONE....