Eating Disorders - OA for February

[MajestyJo]

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

You are reading from the book Food for Thought

Responsibility for Whom?

Before we came to OA, some of us felt responsible for seeing that others did what we thought they should do. By the time we took the Fourth Step, and often long before, we began to realize how manipulative we had tried to be. We may not have thought we could run the whole world, but we sometimes felt that we should maintain control over our little corner, at least.

Through this program, we are learning that we can only be responsible for ourselves. We cannot change anyone else. We can only work on ourselves. No matter how good our advice is, it is useful to someone else only if that person desires and requests it.

Learning that we are responsible to our Higher Power for ourselves alone lifts a heavy weight from our weak shoulders. We stop trying to decide what others should do and how they will react to what we do. We do the best we can, seeking guidance and direction from God, and then we leave the results to Him.

Show me my area of responsibility, Lord.

Found in recovery that I had a lot of false responsibility, things that were not mine to take on. As my sponsor use to say, "You are responsible for carrying the message of recovery and sharing it with others, but what they do with it, is none of your business. What others choose to do with your message is up to them. I was told to share my experience, strength, and hope. If you have sown a seed or given someone pause for thought, you have done your part.