It’s late on a Sunday night — too late for me to be up, really. But I’m watching a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story.” It’s the story of Lois Wilson, the wife of Bill Wilson, the founder of AA. Ironically, it was my husband who told me it was going to be on.
I have to say that it’s been hard to watch in places and I shake my head at how universal the story of loving an alcoholic is. From the honest but broken promises that he’ll stop to the wishing that he’d just have the decency to die. From the lying to cover up his actions to the family who doesn’t understand why she would continue to stay. It’s been difficult watch because so much of it is my own story — a story I don’t want to claim, let alone relive.
Tags: AA, Al-Anon, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Lois Wilson
April 26, 2010 at 5:01 pm |
[...] But I’m watching a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story. It’s the story of Lois Wilson , the wife of Bill Wilson, the founder of AA. Ironically, it was my husband who told me it was going to be on. …This Blog [...]
May 15, 2010 at 5:44 pm |
I was disappointed that the movie did not focus more on the legacy that Lois left for all of us in Al-Anon. Her story was not only about the difficult things she endured during Bill’s drinking days. Her story, and her gift to us, was also in the birth of Al-Anon and her recognition that this is a family disease with more than one participant in need of recovery. None of us ever wants to claim or relive the story of the early days, but I, for one, am grateful to have claimed the second part of her story – the story of my own recovery. Keep coming back…..
July 4, 2010 at 2:59 pm |
Thanks Hummingbird. The summer is 1/3 over and I still haven’t made it back to Al-Anon. I have excuses about not wanting to leave the kids alone and being busy. But I think part of what is keeping me from going is a begrudging resentment that this is my husband’s problem to deal with.
July 4, 2010 at 3:52 pm |
I thought so too. But my resentments were like a ball and chain that tied me to my own unhappiness. It was only when I tried something different, something that committed me to my own recovery, that things started to turn around. Not only for me, but for my marriage as well. That’s why they say, “Keep coming back.” It doesn’t work overnight, but it DOES work. We’ll be watching for you in the rooms!