Service - those who came before us

Well, you should have guessed I would get around to this topic eventually!

I had this really great thought about service early this morning and I should have written it down.  Maybe it will come to me while I'm writing this.  In a nutshell, service is one of the three Legacies of Al-Anon.  Without service our organization would not continue.  Service comes in so many varied forms, but one of the most important is the continued involvement of those who have completed the steps and gone before us.

This service, by those who have completed the steps, allows newcomers to see what the program can do for them.  Their service can be as simple as continuing to attend meetings regularly, or as complex as volunteering to serve at the District, Area or WSO level, or becoming a sponsor.  Without the service of those who came before us, we would not have our wonderful Al-Anon and Alateen programs to turn to.

So, I would ask that any of you who are reading this remember this topic and perhaps bring it up in your meetings if you have the opportunity.  Read from the Service Manual or from our literature, discuss your thoughts about service (big or small), and remind all of our fellowship that those who have worked the steps have the responsibility to continue their program by offering their experience, strength and hope to those who entered the program after them.

Happy Monday everyone.  Wish for some rain for me here, will you?  We could use it.
Angela B.