Forget Punishment

God is all about love. God is about healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, and transformation, not about punishment. The founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W., often said, “Punishment never heals. Only love can heal.” Bill W. understood the Christian message. It’s not about punishment. It’s about love and healing. ~ http://girardianlectionary.net/reflections/ festivals/maundy_thursday_2013_ser/

God is all about love.
God is love itself.
God is about healing,
forgiveness,
reconciliation,
and transformation.
God is anything but
hellfire and damnation!!
God is not your conscience,
a resident policeman,
the small voice which
causing you to feel guilty,
too be unhappy before, during,
and after your rebellion.
God is not a tyrannical parent
reminiscent of Mommy Dearest
or the male equivalent.
God is not doddering, senile,
or geriatric.
God is not meek or indecisive.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very sufficient help in troubles.
but NOT a place to cower
and avoid the world.
God is not obsessed with punishing us.
God is all about love.
God is love itself.
God is about healing,
forgiveness,
reconciliation,
and transformation.

Problem, Meet Solution"

“Dear God, I have a problem . . . me! Dear child, I have an answer . . . Me!” ~ P., Bill; W., Todd; S., Sara. Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects – Steps Six and Seven (p. 77). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

How obvious can it be?
When Recovery makes no sense to me,
the problem, without exception, is ME!!!And no matter what the issue is,
the solution, without exception, is GOD!!!God makes it easy. the invitation is clear…
Come to me, all who labor
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
And in the Psalms,
“I have called upon You,
for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me,
hear my speech.”
And “For I hope in You, O LORD;
You will answer, O Lord my God.”
Then in Isaiah, “Then you will call,
and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am ‘”
and “It will also come to pass
that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are still speaking,
I will hear.”And in Jeremiah,
“Call to Me and I will answer you,
and I will tell you great and mighty things,
which you do not know.”
Divine simplicity:
“Dear God, I have a problem . . . me!”
“Dear child, I have an answer . . . Me!”

Cunning, Baffling and Powerful

Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power that One is God. May you find Him now! Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. we asked His protection and care with complete abandon. ~ Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous: the “Big Book” (The key text of Alcoholics Anonymous) . ignacio hills press (TM) IgnacioHillsPress.com and e-Pulp Adventures (TM). Kindle Edition.

Anthropomorphism. That’s the word
for calling Alcohol, food, drugs, sex, whatever.
cunning.
Anthropomorphism means
an interpretation of what is not human
or personal in terms
of human or personal characteristics.
What does that which is Cunning do?
It’s Machiavellian…like Niccolò Machiavelli…
a pejorative to characterize unscrupulous politicians.
We know nothing of these five hundred years later!
What does that which is Cunning do?
It’s acute…intense, subtle, smart, canny.
What does that which is Cunning do?
It’s wily.  We can make mental comparisons
to Wylie Coyote more easily than Niccolò Machiavelli…
at least I can!
What does that which is Cunning do?
It’s sharp, slick, smooth…
It jerks our reactions and emotions
back to pulling us to devious deceits,
It has all the thoughts hewn through years
of dependence on our addiction
that demand credibility, that demand
we stand by our childhood choices
childish as they nay be.
What does that which is Cunning do?
It’s smart and smooth, knowing
as only it can what arguments
we long to honor
for the bad old times.
What does that which is Cunning do?
It joins with that which is confusing…
baffling, and that which has the strength
to demand the old ways were best…
to pull us back to the Hell we left behind.
“But there is One who has all power
that One is God. May you find Him now!
Half measures availed us nothing.
We stood at the turning point.
we asked His protection
and care with complete abandon.”May it ever be so! 

ALL IN!

I have yet to meet the person who ever regretted saying to the Divine, “All yours.” ~ Myss, Caroline. Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing (p. 86). Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. Kindle Edition.

Jeopardy! contestant James Holzhauer
dominated last season, setting records,
reflecting his life as professional sports gambler
used a visual “All In!” wager on Daily Double questions.
You may or may not be willing to risk it all
as a wager. As for me, I bet the table minimum
most often. But it’s not a gamble
when the dealer is God. The deck there is stacked…
so as to guarantee in your behalf!
Who would pass that up?
I have yet to meet the person
who ever regretted
saying to the Divine, “All yours.”
Okay, God, deal the cards.
I’m ALL IN!!!

What Have You Got to Give?

Fulfilling some of the needs of significant others in our lives brings us joy. Our own needs must be given priority, though. We cannot give away what we don’t have, and we have nothing unless we give sincere attention and love to ourselves. ~ Casey, Karen. Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women. Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“Oxygen masks will drop down
from above your seat.
Place the mask over your mouth and nose…
make sure that your own mask
is on first before helping your children.”
Are you co-dependent?
Are you in a relationship
where two people
with dysfunctional personality traits
become worse together.
Enmeshment happens
when clear boundaries
about where you start
and where your partner ends
are not clearly defined.
Like the situation on a plane
you must have your needs met
before helping others.
We cannot give away
what we don’t have,
and we have nothing
unless we give sincere attention
and love to ourselves.
Then you’re capable
of helping another!

Feelings

I have learned that feelings aren’t shortcomings. The true nature of my problem was my stubborn refusal to acknowledge feelings, to accept them, and to let them go. I have very little power over what feelings arise, but what I choose to do about them is my responsibility. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II. Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

I’m struggling with feelings
after almost thirteen years
in Recovery from
compulsive overeating.
Unfortunately,
ignored feelings still
beckon me to the kitchen,
if not that loathsome
alternatively, the drive-through
window. How can guilt
and apprehension demand
appeasement, pull so hard against
my best thinking?
The true nature of my problem
is my stubborn refusal
to acknowledge feelings,
to accept them,
and to let them go.
I have very little power
over what feelings arise,
but what I choose
to do about them
IS my responsibility. 

Image Copyright : Gennady Kireev  

I Will Accept Myself

I will, I will accept myself
With hope and fear and wonder
And what I have joined together
Let no man put asunder. ~ Dory Previn “Morning Star/Evening Star”

The tenth chapter of Mark
we know so well the words
simply belong in the order
the King James version records,
For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother,
and cleave to his wife;And they twain shall be one flesh:
so then they are no more twain,
but one flesh.What therefore God
hath joined together,
let not man put asunder.Whether or not we’veput a marriage asunder,
there’s a relationship
we must hold together
with “asundering” unquestioned
and that’s the joinder
of me, myself, and I.
Can you aver, “I will accept myself
With hope and fear and wonder
And what I have joined together
Let no man put asunder?”

First Love Yourself

…in order to be able to love and accept others unconditionally. Learning to love ourselves is a challenge to all of us; none of us is born loving ourselves. We have to work toward it. When we neglect ourselves emotionally, we not only become emotionally toxic, we bring that toxin into all of our relationships… ~ Myss, Caroline. Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing (p. 84). Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. Kindle Edition.

Did loving yourself come naturally for you?
Are you able now to love yourself?
Do you accept ALL OTHERS unconditionally?Do you believe you were born loving yourself?
Are you working toward loving yourself?
Are you succeeding?
Do you neglect your emotions? Ignore them?
Disdain them?
Are you emotionally toxic?
Do you make your relationships toxic?
Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself.
On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. So be it.

Hey, Self, It’s a Character Defect!

I was very unhappy and discouraged. I felt inadequate and doubted my ability to manage my life and move ahead. I was becoming more and more desperate. Then, out of nowhere, came the thought that I was dealing with a serious character defect. I don’t know why I hadn’t seen it that way before, but I hadn’t. I felt sure I could handle it on my own. Seeing it in the light of a character defect put a whole new spin on it. I knew I had better turn to God for help. ~ P., Bill; W., Todd; S., Sara. Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects – Steps Six and Seven  (p. 68). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

In context the passage dealt with finances,
overspending, poor choices.
It hit home for me in procrastination,
in adequately seeing to commitments,
to time spent on stupid computer games,
to day after day not getting around to tasks,
to messages,”when you’re finished”
and I’ve yet to start…
I’m very unhappy and discouraged.
I feel inadequate and doubt
my ability to manage my life
and move ahead.
It IS a serious character defect!
My Creator, I am now willing
that You should have all of me,
good and bad. I pray that You
now remove from me
every single defect of character
which stands in the way
of my usefulness to You
and my fellows.
Grant me strength,
as I go out from here,
to do Your bidding.I know I had better
turn to God for help!

Image Copyright : andreykuzmin

Mirror the Calm

Mirror the Calm. ~ Tony Baker speaking on Conflict Resolution

How do you calm people down
when they’re emotional?
Yelling at them,”Calm Down”
is counterintuitive.
What can you do?
Mirror the calm.
Act out the desired demeanor.
Show them what you need.
Establish calm by
being calm.
Be nice to bring out nice,
Live as an example
of what you would have
the world become.

Losing Our Aloneness

What gets in the way of our awareness of God is self. If we are narrowly focused on the concerns of ego and self-will, we ignore the presence of a Higher Power. Then we become weak and confused in our aloneness. ~ L., Elisabeth. Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters. Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Do you live confused
in your aloneness?
Do you feel weak and alone?
There is a solution!
Have we got a plan for you!
Try the Rooms of Recovery!
Slough off your ego, your self-will,
your constraints...
Find yourself willing to be willing
to find yourself in the presence
of the Divine...
and soar beyond your wildest dreams!

Image copyright gracel21

SARCASM

I was very sarcastic—I still am working on that because the definition of sarcasm is “a cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound,” and that goes against my values. ~ P., Bill; W., Todd; S., Sara. Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects – Steps Six and Seven (p. 46). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Sarcasm: the use of irony
to mock or convey contempt.
Irony: the expression of one’s meaning
by using language
that normally signifies the opposite,
typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
“If you can’t say nothing nice
don’t say nothing at all.”
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind …
The second is this:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
“I am suggesting that as we go through life,
we ‘accentuate the positive.’
I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good,
that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm,
that we more generously
compliment and
endorse virtue and effort.”
Gordon B. Hinckley
Do you really need
to throw verbal darts?

Believe It True Now

To heal from the misdirection of one’s spirit, one has to be willing to act to release the past, cleanse one’s spirit, and return to the present moment. “Believe as if it were true now” is a spiritual command from the Book of Daniel to visualize or pray in present time. ~ Myss, Caroline. Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing (p. 78). Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. Kindle Edition.

Affirmations: the action or process
of affirming something or being affirmed.
“Believe as if it were true now.”
Is that a way to create a truth
or is the opposite valid?
The illusory truth effect
if you believe Wikipedia is
the tendency to believe
false information
to be correct
after repeated exposure.
I can find the Myse quote
several places but cannot
locate it in the book of Daniel.
But I believe it to be true.
I believe the truth in,
“one has to be willing
to act to release the past,
cleanse one’s spirit,
and return
to the present moment.
Believe it true now.

Praying a Lie

“You can’t pray a lie — I found that out.” ~ Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

No Addiction Without Lies,
No Recovery Without Truth.
In 12-Step Recovery,
the standard isn’t occasional honesty
or attempted honesty,
but rigorous honesty.
That’s true when thinking,
when talking to a sponsor,
to a friend, when sharing in a group,
or lacking honesty
in self-assessment,
but most of all,
when talking to God
as you understand God…
whether you understand God or not.
No Addiction Without Lies,
No Recovery Without Truth.

image Copyright : elosa

Be Still and Know

You can rest in the faith that God will take care of you. Try to rest in God’s presence until His life-power flows through you. Be still and in that stillness the still, small Voice will come. It speaks in quietness to the human mind that is attuned to its influence. ~ Anonymous. Twenty Four Hours A Day: Meditations (p. 134). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.Be Still and Know

“Rest in the faith”
what a powerful word picture!
“Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you!
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you!”
“He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that he gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing . . .”
God’s still, small voice
speaks in quietness
to the human mind
that is attuned to its influence.
Be Still and Know.

Image Copyright : Frank Coenders

Forgiveness

For my own peace of mind, I need to forgive even the most damaging transgressions; but forgiveness of others can only come when I have learned to forgive myself. ~ Anonymous, Overeaters. For Today (Kindle Locations 2481-2483). Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Who is harder to forgive.
the latest sensational killer
or yourself? How many of us
have dwelt in self-loathing so long
it comes close to a tossup?
We need to love all
while understanding
the need to bear the consequences
of unacceptable past actions.
With all, we must decide
if being peaceful appeals to us more
than being right.
We can claim our peace instantly
by bringing to our minds the thought of God.
That way we can truly love
our fellow human beings.
For my own peace of mind,
I need to forgive
even the most damaging
transgressions and the people involved.

Get Real

Even during the years of my active addiction, with the lying and bragging, it was not all that uncommon for someone to tell me to get real (not a bad working definition for humility, I think). After I started in recovery, my sponsor was fond of pointing out that my way was what landed me in so much difficulty—maybe it was time to look for another way. ~  P., Bill; W., Todd; S., Sara. Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects – Steps Six and Seven (p. 60). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“it was not all that uncommon
for someone to tell me to get real
(not a bad working definition for humility,
I think).”
The Urban dictionary declares
when someone says, “get real”
they want you to do a reality check,
to stop behaving like you live
in a fantasy world.
Did we not get to
the Rooms of Recovery
after a long sojourn
through Fantasyland?
Do you need to get real?
Is the path toward real
not one leading directly through
a garden named Humility?

image Copyright : Thomas Reimer

The Powerlessness Bedrock

Many times I have recognized the insanity of my behavior. The admission that I have a problem with eating is the beginning of my willingness to recover. I am powerless over food and over my eating habits. I learn in Overeaters Anonymous that my powerlessness is the bedrock on which I can build a new life. Weakness is the glue that binds me to others in this program, and I can accept that I need help even after I have abstained from compulsive eating for years.  ~ Overeaters Anonymous. Voices of Recovery for September 12

It starts with an admission,
I’m powerless over food
and my life has become unmanageable.
For years that was the bedrock
of my disease…powerlessness.
It’s when you add in
the willingness to recover
that the result of that catalyst
ceases to be a quagmire of despair
and becomes the bedrock
of the life I longed for.
Weakness really is the glue
binding me to the miracle
that is Recovery.

The Spirit of September 12th

In comradeship is danger countered best. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
People will help each other because there is a sense of camaraderie that springs up, which is a survival tactic. You help them because you know you might need their help later. And that is incredibly reassuring. ~ Amanda Ripley

Having seen hate, evil, willfulness,
the worst people can be or do,
the spirit of love,
of unity, of support,
of unity gave us a time
to experience the best we could be,
a camaraderie we will remember always
as a picture of love for all,
of brotherhood,
of life as it can be lived.

Pig Squeal

Pig Squeal may seem rational on its surface, but it never is. (Never —as in never, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER!) ~ Livingston Ph.D, Glenn . Never Binge Again(tm): Reprogram Yourself to Think Like a Permanently Thin Person(tm). Stop Overeating and Binge Eating and Stick to the Food Plan of Your Choice! (p. 34). Psy Tech Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Our compulsion is the pig squeal.
We may well be…generally are…
rational, logical people.
On emotional days,
like this date will always be,
our generation’s day that will live in infamy,
our logic can point us toward comfort
as we interpreted comfort for years.
And if food would do for us
what we long for, it might make sense
to eat over it, but it would not
and we will not, and this day
and every day will be days
we will live
in Recovery!

image Copyright : petrnutil

Getting Back to Better

Did you begin Recovery
with a honeymoon period
a Pink Cloud??
Urban Dictionary defines the pink cloud:
“12-Step recovery jargon
referring to someone new
who talks about how great life is,
now that they’re sober.
Usually meaning the person
is out of touch with reality.”
There’s nothing wrong
with a honeymoon beginning
for getting back too better
can be easier with
a honeymoon to remember.
How do you reclaim the good?
Work the program,
choose a sponsor,
read the literature
and go to meetings.
Trust the Steps,
Rely on God
as you understand God,
and get back to better.

Image Copyright : maridav

Take the Risk

Yet I want recovery. If I continue to do what I have always done, I will continue to get what I have always gotten. I want the benefits that this spiritual program has to offer. Therefore, I must take the risk and let go and let God. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II. Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

That first Step, powerless over my compulsion,
living an unmanageable life. But I got here,
I want Recovery, and I’ve learned the truism,
“If I continue to do what I have always done,
I will continue to get what I have always gotten.”
I want Recovery, so I can’t stop at Step One.
I must come to believe greater than me
might get me back…or for the first time to Sanity.
Then I must decide to give it a chance
and turn my will and my life over too that God
as I understand God, With all the honesty
I can muster I take inventory of who
and what I am then admit not only to me
and to God but to another person, too,
the exact nature of my wrongs. I become ready
for my quirkiness to be removed
then tell God He can pick and choose
what to take. Then I list people I’ve wronged
and make amends to them.
Then I set up a routine of daily amends,
of prayer and meditation, of reliance on God,
and telling others about Recovery and how they, too,
can benefit by taking the risk to let go and let God.

Image Copyright : wetnose  

Being "Right" Is a Cage

As we move into our birthright as spiritual beings, we discover that “right” is a cage, not a freedom. Being right is a perspective, not a license for angry behavior. Each of us has a unique perspective, thank God, and therefore a unique way of being “right.” ~ P., Bill; W., Todd; S., Sara. Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects – Steps Six and Seven (p. 50). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

It started with a TV remote
that turns the volume up,
never down. Mike was in another room
so I researched the matter going from bad to worse.
In the process I misplaced the defective remote.
It’s frustrating and restoring sanity a challenge,
but my getting a non-defective device
come Monday and keeping my hands off
“his” control is a better solution
than squabbling. Each of us
has a unique perspective, thank God,
and therefore a unique way of being “right.”

Judgmental or Loving

If a rulerʼs anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great errors to rest.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
Fools are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy the low ones.
I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:4-7 (NIV)

Fools equal the poor?
Rich means wise?
Rulers are fools?
Sometimes.
Certainly not always.
We generalize by the person
on our mind,
assuming the example
typifies the class.
We have names for that.
Blindness.
Intolerance.
Bigotry.
We have cures for that.

Tolerance.
Perception.
Love.God, remove my prejudices.
Free me to see people as your children, my siblings,
even when I’d prefer to be an only child.

Trust the Peace

  Today I know that sanity and serenity are the gifts I have received for my efforts and my faith. With practice, I am learning to trust the peace. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II. Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

Are you learning
to trust the peace?
Have you received the gifts
of sanity and serenity?
Are you still trying to earn them?
Do you believe you can earn them
with effort and with faith?
You cannot earn gifts.
That would change them,
make them wages, your due.
Your due is what you deserve,
or something it is your right to have.
A gift is different…
a thing given willingly to someone
without payment; a present.
But I never believe I deserve
the good stuff. Accepting a gift
can be tough.
Do you trust a Power
greater than you
enough to accept peace
and serenity as a gift?

Dignity

What is dignity without honesty? Cicero
…. Dignity is a quality achieved by freeing myself of arrogance and self-importance. When I present myself to the world as I really am, I attain an effortless dignity. ~ Anonymous, Overeaters. For Today (Kindle Locations 2399-2403). Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

We would choose to be seen as having dignity.
I would choose to be seen as having dignity.
I grew up believing I lacked dignity
for I failed to “sit like a lady,”
to spell well, to use my inside voice,
to put my things up.
My clothes were labeled “chubbie.”
My shoes wore out faster than my sisters’.
I would choose to be seen as having dignity.
Dignity is a quality achieved
by freeing myself of arrogance
and self-importance.
When I present myself to the world
as I really am,
I attain an effortless dignity.
What is dignity without honesty?

Fearing Failure

I do not need to fear failure. I need, rather, the peace of mind that comes with taking the action I have been putting off. ~ Anonymous, Overeaters. For Today (Kindle Locations 1644-1645). Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Inertia comes naturally
and the need-to-do’s accumulate
until the entire house, yard,
office, and garage shout
for attention. I recognize
the fear involved,
have long repeated,
“Procrastination is
chronic low-intensity fear.”
I can live fearing failure.
I need, rather,
the peace of mind
that comes with taking the action
I have been putting off.

Smiling

Smiling is first an attitude and then an action. ~ Casey, Karen. Keepers of The Wisdom Daily Meditations: Reflections From Lives Well Lived. Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Use your senses fully. Be where you are. Look around. Just look, don’t interpret. See the light, shapes, colors, textures. Be aware of the silent presence of each thing. Be aware of the space that allows everything to be. Listen to the sounds; don’t judge them. Listen to the silence underneath the sounds. ~ Tolle, Eckhart. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (p. 63). New World Library. Kindle Edition.

I was pianist for the local Rotary Club
growing up and loved this song:
Smile – and the world smiles with you,
Sing a song.
Don’t be weary, just be cheery
All day long.
Whenever your trials, your troubles
And your care
Seem to be more than you can really bear
Smile – and the world smiles with you,
Sing a song.I didn’t love playing it.
My hands are small enough
they don’t easily fit piano chords,
Daddy led singing and sang this fast.
But I loved…and love..the song!
And the intent of the song.
Smiling is first an attitude
and then an action!
Be alive.
Use your senses fully.
Be where you are.
Look around.
Just look, don’t interpret.
Live with a smile in your heart
as well as on your face!

Who You Are

Belden Lane writes. “The person I travel with there isn’t worried about his performance. He sheds the polished persona he tries so often to project to others. Scribbling in my journal under the shade of a pin oak atop Bell Mountain, I’m happy as a lark. I want to be the person that I am when I’m alone in wilderness.” ~ Brooks, David. The Second Mountain(p. 42). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Who are you when you’re alone?
For many (most?) oof us compulsive eaters
we used to eat when we were alone,
hungry or not. Do you use your alone time
to do what would embarrass you
if others saw? Who IS the person
you travel with in solitude?
Eight years ago I learned
a lot about me when for the first time
ever I lived alone, free to decide
what to read, what to hear,
whether the television needed to be on.
I loved it. I liked me.
I want always want to be the person
that I am when I’m alone.

Isolated is alone with myself.
Lonely is alone among you.
Solitary is alone with God.
 (Image by Katrina Edwards)

The Give and Take

We can all strive to become traders, people who have learned how to both give and receive. We each have the capacity to give what we have freely and to ask, gratefully, for what we don’t have. That is the greatest gift of all. ~ Anonymous. Today’s Gift: Daily Meditations for Families (Hazelden Meditation Series) . Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Are you more comfortable giving or receiving?
I find hiving a natural act to the extent
I recently was told,”I won’t take any more from you.”
But to let someone else do a favor for me?
No, thanks. I’ll do it myself,
whether I can…physically or
that I have the requisite skill set.
I’m fine. I can do it myself…or i’ll pretend I can
whether or not I know how.
God. give me the grace to ask for help,
to accept it when it’s offered.
Make me a trader, able to receive
as freely as I give!
Help me find the capacity to give what I have freely
AND to ask, gratefully, for what I don’t have.