Love is something if you give away, you end up having more. —Malvina Reynolds
The other side of giving is taking. Many of us were brought up to believe that it's not okay to take, so we diminish admiration that people give us. "Oh, this old rag, I got it at a garage sale for next to nothing." This response to a compliment can take away the joy of giving it from the person who admired the way we looked.
Giving needs taking to complete it. We can keep the cycle of generosity going by taking gracefully. A world without those who take would be unbalanced. When someone gives us love, appreciation, or a gift, we can show our real pleasure with a simple thank you, and stop thinking we don't deserve it.
Can I accept what's given to me today in the spirit it's offered?
From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families ©
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
He who can take advice is sometimes superior to he who can give it. ---Karl von Knebel
In recovery, we learn that we don’t know everything. We had stopped listening. Most of us had been asked by family, friends, doctors, and employers to stop drinking and using other drugs. But, we didn’t listen. If we had listened, we would’ve been in this program long ago. Addiction did something to how we listen. We heard only what we wanted to hear. Do I still hear only what I want?
In recovery, we learn to listen. We listen to our groups. We listen to our sponsor. We listen as we read. The better we listen, the better our recovery.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, open my ears and eyes to this new way of life. Allow me to hear Your wisdom in the Twelve Steps. Allow me to be someone who takes advice, not just gives it.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll try to listen. Today I’ll seek the advice to others. I’ll ask my sponsor how I may better my program.
Meditation
In thinking about our day we may face indecision.
We may not be able to determine which course to take.
Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision.
We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle.
We are often surprised how the right answers come
after we have tried this for a while.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 86
Thought to Ponder . . .
Meditation is our step out into the sun.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
K I S S = Keeping It Simple, Spiritually.
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Daily Motivation
Own your good fortune
Don’t wish for a solution to your problems. Be the solution, with the way you live each moment.
If you hold out hope that something will come along to make it all better, you’ll be disappointed. Life gets better when you choose to live it in a positive, intentional, responsible and fulfilling way.
Good fortune is not something that happens to you. Rather, it is the way you can choose to be, no matter what happens.
If your happiness is dependent on factors beyond your control, you’ll never be secure enough in it to enjoy it. If you have to beg for favors, those favors will be of little use to you.
Good fortune is yours when you take full and complete ownership of it. Fulfillment is yours when you make the effort and commitment to live it each day.
Embrace total responsibility, and own your good fortune. All is well because you choose to make it so.
— Ralph Marston
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