August 9

As addicts, we were confused about Love. We spoke of Love with our lips, but our actions proved different.

Our Loved ones soon grew tired of enabling our using in the name of Love. We grew resentful when they stopped enabling our addiction or didn't care to have us around anymore. Many of us were hurt by Loved ones as Children, even before active addiction.

We became Love veterans, hurt by Love. Since we didn't Love ourselves, how can we Love anyone.

Most of our interactions with others were motivated by our addiction. We used drugs, but we also used people, places and things. Like our Literature says, "We use to live and live to use. " If we felt unloved by people who were visible, with our eyes, how can we Believe something we couldn't see could Love us.

When some of us hit our bottoms, we reached out in desperation and called out for Help. This cry for Help was the end of our bottoms and the beginning of our Journey to Recovery. In our First Step we were beaten into submission.

The pain of Living without drugs and nothing to replace them, force us to seek Help from a Power Greater than ourselves. This Power we're introduced to in the Second Step is one that's Loving and Caring. Whether it's the Group or a Higher Power we experienced unconditional Love.

We heard members say, 11 Love you until you learn to Love yourself. We discover that Love was present all the time, we just needed to tap into it. Recovery in Narcotics Anonymous is Free and Available for all those who seek it.

Love is one of the Highest forms of Spiritual Principles manifested in our Lives. Yes, Love becomes an action word, not just a feeling. Motivated by Love and service, we Help supply Love for new members. Through the Steps and Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous, we are able to Practice Love and other Spiritual Principles in all our affairs.