“Come Walk with Me”

 July 6, 2025

Dear Reader,

I would like to take a moment to reflect on the words: “Come walk with me.”

Though the origin of the phrase is biblical, its meaning extends beautifully into recovery. For example, when a newcomer walks into their first AA meeting, it's often the outstretched hand that greets them—offering a cup of coffee or a simple cookie. In that moment, we follow the example of our Lord.

And that gesture doesn't end there. It’s common for someone to gently ask, “Do you have a sponsor?” In doing so, they’re offering a path forward—a guide to help someone begin the journey through the Twelve Steps. At every turn, AA members embody this spiritual invitation: Come walk with me.

This phrase has even broader meaning in our daily lives. When a friend or fellow traveler needs shelter, direction, or the warmth of a supportive home, they will often follow with hope and joy when someone offers them a meal, a listening ear, or life-guiding advice.

Whether we speak or act, a Christlike spirit empowers us—helping us grow beyond our expectations and support others who are searching for belonging. I’m reminded of President Jeffrey R. Holland’s story about a little disabled boy who, with all his heart, tried to bring the sacrament to his father. The story closes with the Savior’s words: “Whosoever … shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

When we humbly extend our hand and ask, “May I help you?” we change the dynamic of any circumstance. This small act opens our hearts to the Spirit of God and fills us with a desire to walk with the Savior. In doing so, we receive His strength and His power—to persevere, to uplift, and to bring others along through the hard battles of life.

With just the simple words “Come walk with me,” something remarkable begins. As my mother often said: “You are on the King’s highway, and all the traffic lights are green.” In that moment, we let God prevail. We allow the infinite power of our Heavenly Father and His Son to guide our every step. Most of all, we join the great family of man—fortified by spiritual protections no assailant can overcome.

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Supporting Thoughts

"We only keep what we have by giving it away."
— Alcoholics Anonymous (Tradition of Sponsorship)

“Helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery.”
— Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 97

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
— Mosiah 2:17, Book of Mormon

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2

“I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left.”
— Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

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So today—with the quiet strength of humility and hope—I say:
Come walk with me.
Not behind me or ahead of me, but side by side—together—toward the light.

Amen.