Social Reformer. Edwin "Ebby T." Thacher was a schoolmate of Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholic Anonymous and the 12 steps program. In the early 1930's the two reunited over the common problem of alcoholism, thus marked the beginning of the rest of Wilson's successful life. Thacher, having experienced the grip of alcoholism, introduced Wilson to a newly formed Oxford Group with its strong spiritual values and emphasis on self-examination. Skeptical at first, Wilson later had a revelation that helped him recognize just what his friend, Ebby T., had done for him. In turn, Wilson decided that he would share what he had learned with other alcoholics. With this revelation, Alcoholic Anonymous was founded. Although Wilson always claimed Thacher as his sponsor and had him speak at meetings during the initial establishing of this worthwhile program, Thacher soon returned to drinking, thus he was never credited for his part in starting Alcoholic Anonymous. Thacher struggled on and off with sobriety over the years with some very serious relapses. Once he was so malnourished that he had lost fifty pounds after a binge. With the financial support of Wilson, he was admitted to various rehab centers. Thacher never found the reason to stay sober and blamed failing relationships with women or unsuccessful professional opportunities as the "cause" of his continual drinking. Although Thacher was born the youngest of five successful sons in a well-to-do family, his grateful friend Wilson was the one who watched after Thacher's welfare for the rest of his life and saw that he had at least the basics of food and shelter. After living two years in yet another rehab center in rural Ballston Spa, New York, he ultimately died sober from emphysema.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
Social Reformer. Edwin "Ebby T." Thacher was a schoolmate of Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholic Anonymous and the 12 steps program. In the early 1930's the two reunited over the common problem of alcoholism, thus marked the beginning of the rest of Wilson's successful life. Thacher, having experienced the grip of alcoholism, introduced Wilson to a newly formed Oxford Group with its strong spiritual values and emphasis on self-examination. Skeptical at first, Wilson later had a revelation that helped him recognize just what his friend, Ebby T., had done for him. In turn, Wilson decided that he would share what he had learned with other alcoholics. With this revelation, Alcoholic Anonymous was founded. Although Wilson always claimed Thacher as his sponsor and had him speak at meetings during the initial establishing of this worthwhile program, Thacher soon returned to drinking, thus he was never credited for his part in starting Alcoholic Anonymous. Thacher struggled on and off with sobriety over the years with some very serious relapses. Once he was so malnourished that he had lost fifty pounds after a binge. With the financial support of Wilson, he was admitted to various rehab centers. Thacher never found the reason to stay sober and blamed failing relationships with women or unsuccessful professional opportunities as the "cause" of his continual drinking. Although Thacher was born the youngest of five successful sons in a well-to-do family, his grateful friend Wilson was the one who watched after Thacher's welfare for the rest of his life and saw that he had at least the basics of food and shelter. After living two years in yet another rehab center in rural Ballston Spa, New York, he ultimately died sober from emphysema.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
