This morning I woke up late and my prayers were interrupted because my wife had to be at work early. I tried to avoid blame and accept that this was God's will for me and I prayed as I went through my tasks.

Last night I didn't do a written review because I fell asleep putting my son to sleep. He was afraid again and I had to lay down with him. I tried to get him to sleep on his own but I felt too empathetic to stick to it.

This morning I read in the Gospel about the farmer that had two sons (Mt 21:28-32) and asked them to go work in the vineyard. One son says ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind , the other son said ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.

This got me thinking about recent discussions about whether or not some people (particularly gay) go to heaven. I thought that this would be a good way to address this issue with them rather than whether or not they go based on lifestyle.

Last night and this morning I got to talk to a person with less experience than me about matters of recovery.
This morning I had a near occasion of sin in sexual thoughts.
This morning I got to sort through my documents and find my GED documentation.
This morning I got to go to my high school and obtain my transcripts. It was eye opening to see the grades. I had a lot of F's but I had high test scores. It reminded me that personal conduct is more important than intelligence.
Today as I drove around running my errands and after talking to my wife I began to feel much more optimistic about the current path of my life.

Tonight I had to make a choice between going with my wife and kids to the neighborhood association Christmas festival or to a 12 step meeting at my home group. I chose the latter. I am grateful because of what I heard in the meeting. The topic was from the family afterward about the recovered alcoholic's responsibility to recognize that the family was long neglected and that we have to practice a lot of acceptance and gratitude. I thought about how my wife had said this week that this has been the best year of our life in the ways that are most important. I had been in some self pity over not being an adequate father and this made me grateful. I also heard someone speak about their parents being alcoholic and about losing one of them and it made me think of my wife. I then became grateful that I get to be the sober person in her life.

Tonight I heard some good news about the financial assistance we are receiving. I close this day feeling better about myself and my decisions than I have felt in a long time.

Thanks be to God.