“Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing
to make amends to them all.”
“Now we need more action, without which we find that ‘Faith without works is dead.’” Let’s look at Step Eight. We have a list of persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took our 4th Step inventory when we subjected ourselves to an honest and sincere self-appraisal.
This Step is concerned with personal relations. First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done; and third having thus cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with out newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know.
This is a very large order. It is a task which we may perform with increasing skill, but never really finish. Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all mean and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure. We who have attempted this has found that we can make little headway in this new adventure of living until we first backtrack and really make an accurate and unsparing survey of the human hurt we have left in our wake. To a degree, they have already done this when taking a moral inventory, but now the time has when we ought to redouble our efforts to see how man people we’ve hurt, and in what ways.
- Have I made a list of the persons I have harmed, and in what ways? If not, why not?
- Review your list are you willing to make amends to each person listed? If not, why not?
- Ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help you with this task. Complete it and give thanks.
Bible scriptures regarding “Justice”.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24
Source: page 76 Alcoholics Anonymous
