~ SERVICE ~

[janbear]

~ SERVICE ~

Ask not what your country can do for you
but what you can do for your country.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy





Service is essential to my recovery. As our primary purpose states, "we carry the message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers." The essence of my program is that of committing to service. I recall at one of the first functions I ever attended, other than a meeting, there was a large number of pots and pans that needed to be washed in the kitchen after the meal had been served. I was told by my sponsor at the time that we were going to go in there and wash all those dirty pans and when I asked why she said, "Because this stuff keeps us abstinent." That was good enough for me.

Since then my service in program has been of paramount importance to me, so I sponsor and serve at the group and Intergroup levels, I attend all events I can and am in service at most of the meetings I attend. I encourage sponsees to serve their fellow sufferers also and ask them to sponsor newcomers as soon as they have worked Steps One through Three. This action gets them working on Step Four as well.

One of my favorite ways to give service is to be available to talk to newcomers by telephone. As our responsiblity pledge states, "Always to lend the heart and hand to all who share my compulsion, for this I am responsible." A commitment to service is as vital to my recovery as my commitment to abstinence, working the Steps and a daily food plan. These components mesh together and give me purpose I never had before.



One Day at a Time . . .
I will find a way to be helpful
to others in program.

~ Jill C. ~