- Those things we once had and lost
- Those opportunities lost
- Those things we could have had but missed the boat
- Those things others have and don't deserve
I am, however, today a firm believer in the idea that from struggle comes strength, and out of pain rises love for God. I once heard, "If you want 5 years of sobriety overnight, you have to be willing to take the 5 years worth of pain with it".
We so easily lose track of the miracle of sobriety that has encompassed us, in doing so we lose touch with the power of God's will in our lives and rather than learning to be comfortable and humble in what we have we began to long for more. Now God, has provided for us, not only life, but a sober life, and has in doing so granted us mercy, most alcoholics are destined to die drunk, undeserved of the gift of our entrance to the fellowship we snub our noses at the grace and mercy God shows us when he places us in the rooms to recover. Yet recovery is not enough, we want more and we want it in abundance.
Don't get me wrong, God wants us to do amazing things, we have been called to save lives and to be productive members of society, but we have been asked to reach out to the most desolate and weak, and we must trust that where we are socio-economically is just where he intends us to be to continue to be of maximum service to he and our fellows.
Don't compare your insides to their outsides, your sober journey is uniquely yours, it has been crafted for you, your spiritual path is your and yours alone to walk. While you can accept certain role models in your life it is important imitate their acts while expecting God's results.
Be happy with what you have!
Envy...I suffer....