Daily Motivation 12-20-11

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Today's Gift

Give to the world all that you have, and the best will come back to you. —Mary Ainge De Vere

When we share something of our own with a friend, it gives both of us a special feeling. Generosity blesses the giver as much as the receiver. Sometimes we feel selfish, wanting to hoard all our treats or treasures. But when we secretly hide them away, we cheat even ourselves from enjoying them.

Giving love and friendship to others works in just the same way. When we express love and kindness to others, we feel more love toward ourselves. Though we may not understand just how it works, we can be certain it does. The more of anything we give away to others, the greater our own rewards will be.

How can I practice generosity today?

From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families ©

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Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Keep It Simple

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
---Edith Wharton

 

Our Higher Power is the candle. And our hearts, like a mirror, reflect a warm, loving glow.
But when we used alcohol and other drugs, we tired to be the candle. We wanted to have control. Many of us acted like this to hide how out of control we felt. We never thought we could be happy by admitting we were out of control.

 

In recovery, we accept that it’s okay to be the mirror. We accept that our Higher Power is the candle that guides us. We want to be the mirror that reflects how much our Higher Power loves us.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, thank-you for the light and warmth You give me.

 

Action for the Day: Tonight, I’ll light a candle and place it in front of a mirror. I’ll study how they work together to light the room.

 

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One Day At A Time

 

Carrying The Message
Step Twelve, ". . . we tried to carry this message to alcoholics."
What message? Hope. Example. The way out. The way back.
A handful of simple principles to unravel most of our snarled-up problems.
A touch of humor -- not taking ourselves so damned seriously.
Meetings. Availability. Talk, talk, talk.
The willingness to listen with understanding as the still-suffering alcoholic
thrashes his way out of his mental mire.
Tolerance. Guilelessness. . . .
"Carrying the message" is all these things.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], p. 179

Thought to Ponder . . .
The Twelve Steps -- a manuscript for rational living.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O P E = Helping Other People Every day.

 

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Daily Motivation

The magic in each moment

The gentle rain falls, and life sings a new song. The cool breeze blows, setting all the world in motion with its invisible hand.

The magic in each moment cannot be explained or defined. Yet it is easy and wonderful to feel.

Certainly life can be painful and inconvenient, frustrating and disappointing. Still, it is absolutely worth all the trouble and more.

In each moment there is unique and endless richness, if you’ll merely open yourself to it. Though it is wonderful and beneficial to do more and more, it is also more than enough just to be.

Whatever you have, wherever you are, there is much for which to be thankful. In the ups and downs, in the certainties and in the mysteries, there are always great treasures to be found.

Allow the magic of this moment to fill your awareness and to nourish your spirit. And joyfully realize how truly rich you are.

— Ralph Marston