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“We share comfort and encouragement with others.”
—Basic Text, page 95
Many of us have experienced the joy of watching a baby take their first steps. The mother supports the child on its feet, while the father kneels nearby with outstretched arms, his face radiating devotion. The baby takes a few small, tentative steps toward its father, cheered on by an older brother and sister. Even if the baby falls, the mother gently picks the child up and encourages them to try again, until they finally fall safely into their father’s arms.
As newcomers to Narcotics Anonymous, we arrive much like that small child. Having lived lives crippled by addiction, full of fear and uncertainty, we need help to stand. Our first steps toward recovery are tentative and shaky, but we learn to live this new way of life through the encouragement and comfort of others who have walked this path before us. Our sponsors guide us, sharing what has worked—and what hasn’t—in their own journeys.
There are times when we feel unable to take another step in our recovery. Just like a child learning to walk, we may stumble or fall. But our Higher Power is always there, waiting for us with outstretched arms. And like the child’s siblings cheering them on, other NA members support us, encouraging us as we walk toward a full life in recovery.
Just for today: I will seek encouragement from others. I will encourage others who may need my strength.