I just want to publically give my Love and Honor to my sponsor of 24 years, friend of 30 years. I thank her for the unwavering tough love she gave me for three decades. For hours spent sitting in a hospital room waiting to see if I would make it this time or not; never ever turning her back or giving up on me; sticking by me when even the medical establishment had given up; banging me upside the head with her words of wisdom and truth, whether I was "hearing" them or not; calling me hundreds of miles away to ask if I were going to meetings, and giving me hell and damnation if I wasn't. For years and years of being the best friend and sponsor I could have ever been gifted with, she was always called my Mama Coletta. A piece of me has gone with her. I pray that I can touch even one hundreth of those she touched in the program. The toughest cookie I've ever known. She left Saturday, and no doubt she is running the biggest AA meeting in the afterlife. I love you Coletta. Wren
Big Respect to the Lady, Chris. She done a great job with you. Your merit is to her credit & I know you won't mind me saying that. I think you're awesome which surely will reflect 'Mama Coletta'. Thanks for sharing your prayers & blesses for her with us. Her influence touching our lives too. Love in recovery, Danielle xxxxx
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Wren, You are in my prayers! What an honor for you to have known such a wonderful woman!! And...what a blessing, we get to reap the rewards of her hard work through you!!!! Lani
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
Dedicated to the memory of Coletta (may it bring you peace): Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. Your stay is but short, and the moment of your departure unknown. None can live without toil, and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will overtake you, and you will be denied the joy that comes from labours end. Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others. Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered. Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds. Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself. Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are. Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation. You, no less than all beings, have the Nature of the Sublime within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remorse nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on. Faith is like a lamp, and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always, and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light.
Thank you, everyone, for your kind and sensitive words. It's funny, in the last two days I've talked to people down in Cal. that I havent seen in over twenty years. Alot of reminiscing and laughing at the craziness when we all came into the program at once, all of us so sick. And I noticed we all slipped right back into that goffiness, LOL. "remember the time that we" etc. So many of us came in around the same time, and then after a few years we moved away, etc. and now to be back in touch is really heart warming. She's been so loved for so long. I do hope the weather will permit me to go down in January for her memorial. Give us all a chance to remember together. love chris
