Tolerance

IT IS AMAZING to me how tolerant and understanding AA members are of active drunks. Whether on a Twelfth Step call or just trying to carry the message by sober example, we will put up with almost anything from a drunk we are trying to help. We will understand when he throws up in our car and on us, when he swears at us and calls us every name he can think of, when he wants to fight, when he accuses us of hypocrisy and religious fanaticism, and when he does so many other intolerable things that only a drunk can do. It is because we understand that we will put up with these things and go back again to put up with more of the same. We want to help the still-suffering alcoholic, and we know that we can't help if we are not there when we are needed.