Dr. Bob Smith was one of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In fact, the founding date of AA is June 10, 1935, the day that Bob became sober. He remained sober for the next 15 years until he died of cancer in 1950. Those who are not members of AA or are unfamiliar with the history of the program, often know the name of the other co-founder – Bill Wilson – or more anonymously, “Bill W.” Bill did most of the writing of the original texts and was the “face” of this anonymous program. Members are often heard referring to themselves as a “Friend of Bill W.”

I point out Bob’s sobriety today because Bob was all about humility – and today, I need to be reminded of humility. This week has been a rough one for me. Things haven’t gone my way and my ego has taken quite a few blows (and it’s only Wednesday!). This morning when I awoke, Dr. Bob came to mind. While I was in the shower, I remembered something I purchased in the gift shop when I visited his historic home in Akron, OH: a copy of a framed print that hung on Dr. Bob’s office wall until the day of his death. I knew I needed to read it again immediately. And now, I share it with you because I think I also need to type the words into my keyboard so they live in the memory of my fingers throughout the day. I pray to God that I can have this kind of humility as I walk through the day that lies ahead…

Humility*

Perpetual quietness of
heart. It is to have no
trouble. It is never to be
fretted or vexed, irritable
or sore. To wonder at
nothing that is done to me.
To feel nothing done
against me. It is to be at rest
when nobody praises me, when I
am blamed or despised. It is to
have a blessed home in myself
where I can go in and shut the
door and kneel to my Father in
secret and be at peace, as in a
deep sea of calmness, when all
around and about is seeming
trouble.

*From a framed print on the office wall of Robert Holbrook Smith, M.D. (Akron, OH)