Narcotics Anonymous

Just For Today - Daily Email Service

   May 18                              Friends and amends-keeping it simple

   "We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to
                     do so would injure them or others."

                                                                    Step Nine

                           ----=----

   In every relationship, we don't always handle things the way we would
   have hoped.  But friendships don't have to end when we make mistakes;
   instead, we can make amends.   If we are sincerely willing to accept the
   responsibilities involved in friendship and make the amends we owe, those
   friendships can become stronger and richer than ever.

   Making amends is simple.  We approach the person we have harmed and say,
   "I was wrong."  Sometimes we avoid getting to the point, evading an
   admission of our own part in the affair.  But that frustrates the intent
   of the Ninth Step.  To make effective amends, we have to keep it simple:
   we admit our part, and leave it at that.

   There will be times when our friends won't accept our amends.   Perhaps
   they need time to process what has happened.  If that is the case, we must
   give them that time.  After all, we were the ones in the wrong, not them.
   We have done our part; the rest is out of our hands.

                           ----=----

   Just for today:  I want to be a responsible friend.  I will strive to keep
   it simple when making amends.