February 20

February 20 – AM          Page 153-154, A Vision For You, Chapter 11

In the chapter “Working With Others” you gathered an idea of how we approach and aid others to health.  Suppose now that through you several families have adopted this way of life.  You will want to know more of how to proceed from that point.  Perhaps the best way of treating you to a glimpse of your future will be to describe the growth of the fellowship among us.  Here is a brief account:
Years ago, in 1935, one of our number made a journey to a certain western city.  From a business standpoint, his trip came off badly.  Had he been successful in his enterprise, he would have been set on his feet financially which, at the time, seemed vitally important.  But his venture wound up in a law suit and bogged down completely.  The proceeding was shot through with much hard feeling and controversy.
Bitterly discouraged, he found himself in a strange place, discredited and almost broke.  Still physically weak, and sober but a few months, he saw that his predicament was dangerous.  He wanted so much to talk with someone, but whom?

February 20 – PM          Page 107-108, To Wives, Chapter 8

And even if they did not love their families, how could they be so blind about themselves?  What had become of their judgment, their common sense, their will power?  Why could they not see that drink meant ruin to them?  Why was it, when these dangers were pointed out that they agreed, and then got drunk again immediately?
These are some of the questions which race through the mind of every woman who has an alcoholic husband.  We hope this book has answered some of them.  Perhaps your husband has been living in that strange world of alcoholism where everything is distorted and exaggerated.  You can see that he really does love you with his better self.  Of course, there is such a thing as incompatibility, but in nearly every instance the alcoholic only seems to be unloving and inconsiderate; it is usually because he is warped and sickened that he says and does these appalling things.  Today most of our men are better husbands and fathers than ever before.