|
--Traditional Circle of
Elders. ONONDAGA
In Dr Bob's story, he
says that alcoholics have a gift of picking out the world's
finest women. (Big Book pg. 178)
Bill says, "My wife
and I abandoned ourselves with enthusiam to the idea of helping
other alcoholics to a solution of their problems." (Big
Book pg.15)
Throughout AA history, women have
played a major role in the development of AA. Bill speaks over and
over about Lois's role in his struggles with alcoholism. Dr. Bob
says he would have been dead long before if not for
Ann. It was a woman, Henrietta Sieberling, who introduced
Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Sister Ignatia helped Dr. Bob carry the message
of recovery to 5000 alcoholics. Nurse Teddy worked with Bill W. and
Dr. Silkworth in New York. Ruth Hock worked, with little or no
payment in the first New York AA office for many years. She took the
dictation for the Big Book and answered thousands of letters
for alcoholics. Bill and Dr. Bob are known as the co-founders
of AA. I wonder where AA would be if it had not been for the
women who protected and nurtured these men?
I believe I would have ended up dead,
in an alley somewhere, if it had not been for my wife, who stayed
with me, covered for me and nagged me until I started to take a look
at my life.
Where would any of us be if it weren't
for women?
|