The joy of sharing
“There is a spiritual principle of giving away what we have been given in Narcotics
Anonymous in order to keep it. By helping others to stay clean, we enjoy the benefit
of the spiritual wealth that we have found.”
Basic Text p. 47
Time and again in our recovery, others have freely shared with us what was freely
shared with them. Perhaps we were the recipients of a Twelfth Step call. Maybe
someone picked us up and took us to our first meeting. It could be that someone
bought us dinner when we were new. All of us have been given time, attention, and
love by our fellow members. We may have asked someone, “What can I do to repay
you?” And the answer we received was probably a suggestion that we do the same
for a newer member when we were able.
As we maintain our clean time and recovery, we find ourselves wanting to do for
others the things that someone did for us, and happy that we can. If we heard the
message while in a hospital or institution, we can join our local H&I subcommittee.
Perhaps we can volunteer on the NA help line. Or we can give of our time, attention,
and love to a newcomer we are trying to help.
We’ve been given much in our recovery. One of the greatest of these gifts is the
privilege of sharing with others what’s been shared with us, with no expectation of
reward. It’s a joy to find we have something that can be of use to others, and that
joy is multiplied when we share it. Today we can do so, freely and gratefully.
Just for today: I have been given much in my recovery, and I am deeply grateful for
it. I will take joy in being able to share it with others as freely as it was shared with
me.