August 5, 2022

Dear God, I’m so thrilled that Terri sent me this beautiful book, “Life Recovery Prayers Devotional.” By Stephen Arterburn, M.Ed. and Nick Harrison. It’s a daily prayer for each day. I love my sista, Terri. I know that you put Terri in my life because I needed guidance through the Big Book and the Twelve and Twelve step books. fellowship

Terri and I met in the break-out room from the 319 meetings. The room is for any woman who needs help to stay sohba. We give the new woman our telephone numbers if they need them. Terri and I went into the break-out room because a woman needed help. Terri and I were trying to help a young woman. The woman appeared young when she spoke. Terri was very gentle with this girl. I thought the girl was wasting our time by saying, “I don’t know if I’m an alcoholic.” Terri told the girl to keep coming to meetings on the 319. Do you need my number? Terri asked the girl.

The young woman didn’t seem to want help from us. I broke into the conversation and was hard on the girl, and I asked her, “How young do you have to be to die from this disease? And do you want to get sohba? The old timers treated me the same way when I first entered the fellowship. Terri’s approach was more calming, whereas I was tough on the young girl. The girl just wanted to talk about her problems to us. I thought she was playing games because she chuckled about not staying sohba.

After thirty minutes, the young woman in the break-out room left the room. I loved Terri’s way of helping a newcomer. I listened to Terri carefully when she was talking to the young woman. Terri was positive, loving, helpful, caring, and supportive to the young woman and offered her a number, but the woman did not want it. Terri is so kindhearted, beautiful, sweet, and very gentle. After the woman left the break-out room, Terri and I were together in the room, and in an instant, I looked at Terri and asked her if she sponsored women. She said, “Yes,” so I asked Terri to be my sponsor. I don’t remember what Terri said, but she did say “Yes.”

Since then, Terri and I talk every day at eight-thirty in the morning eastern time. Terri lives in sunny California, and her time zone is three hours behind eastern time. We Face-Time each morning so we can see each- other. Sometimes on the weekend, if I text Terri S.O.S, she’ll call me back. Terri always picks up the phone if I need her, or she’ll find a way to speak to me.

My new book, I love it! On August 4, the reading is about the Power of Friendship. It writes about our recovery journey and that we need fellowship like water. It’s imperative to have friends in the fellowship and to have a sponsor as well. A sponsor, I believe, is like a life coach. But my sponsor is my sista forever. Once I become friends with other women in the program, it never ends. I love Terri with all my heart. She has helped me tremendously. Terri has great wisdom, and I soak it up. I want to visit her this Thanksgiving. We’ll see. I need to save money for my trip. I can’t wait to hug Terri. I’m going to knock her over, LOL