We interrupt this program to thank our sponsor.  Ever hear those words?  Well, guess what?  Give Your Story does not have a sponsor.  Unless I am my own sponsor.  NOPE FOR SURE NOT!

I have been talking about being a sponsor or I have used the words my sponsor several times in the last week.  What the heck is a sponsor?  In a 12-step room most of us have what is called a sponsor.  A sponsor has been in the program for a goof while and they have something that you want.   A sponsor is a person who has experience strength and hope to offer you to help you find a better life.  They are your guide.  They guide you through the steps.  A Sponsorship relationship is a unique relationship.  There is no relationship like it.  I best describe it as it’s not a parental role, it’s not a friendship, it’s not a teacher role, it’s all of them. 

I have been with my sponsor since 2006.  Jimmy has given me so much of his time over the last 18 years if he had a nickel for every minute, he spent talking with me and guiding me and sharing his wisdom with me he would literality be A MILLIONIARE.  I am so forever grateful for ALL that Jimmy has done for me over the years. 

Since we have been 450 miles away for the last 9 years our relationship has changed a bit and we are not as close as we use to be.  It doesn’t mean I feel any different about him, we are just in different seasons of our life.

Today I called him for the first time in 7 months.  This is not standard to have this time gap, by any means but there is a story for another time as the reason(s) for that.  Here is how he answered the phone; “Hey!  You finally got out of jail!”  Translate you haven’t called me in a long time.  Now I will say the phone does have 2-ends but we can save that argument for another time. 

Now first we did all the catch up.  “How are you?”  “How are you?” Then we did all the memories.  Then just like always, Jimmy closed with a joke.  Now for the record, sometimes Jimmy tells off color jokes.  Today was a close call.  Before I share the joke with you, I need to re-explain something. 

First a joke.  (This was the “Hey!  You finally got out of jail!”) Capture your attention.  Second, We did all the How are yous, third we did all the memories, and last we had a joke! (re-enforcement of the message). MORE SEE. 

So, here was the joke:  Guy is hunting in a field.  He shoots a duck out of the sky.  It falls on the farmers property just on the other side of the fence of the field.  The hunter jumps the fence to go get his duck. The farmer drives up on his tractor and asks the hunter what he is doing on his property.  The hunter responds that he is just retrieving the duck hat he just shot.  The farmer claims that because the duck fell on his property it is his duck.  They squabble back and forth for a while until the farmer comes up with an idea on how to resolve the problem.  He tells the hunter his idea.  Let’s hash this out like men.  We will take turns kicking each other in the balls until one of us says UNCLE.  They agree and the Farmer says, “I’ll go first”. He backs up and gives a real good stiff kick to the hunter. Direct HIT!  With that, the hunter lands on the ground in severe pain, tears rolling down his face screaming in agony.  Finally, after a few minutes, the hunter was able to compose himself.  As the hunter stood back up, he said to the farmer “Ok now it’s my turn”.  The farmer said, “I have given it some more thought……Keep the duck.”   

The moral of the story is BE WISE.

This was Jimmy’s summary closing after the joke.  He has 30 years in a 12-step program.  I have 21 years.  The message was a little raw but definitely funny.  The point?  We have grown wise in our growth together throughout the years.  We need to continue that growth, so we don’t get outsmarted by the farmer.       

*Note- name changed for this story.