Thursday, December 13, 2012
Today's Gift
Sometimes a small thing you do can mean everything in another person's life. Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts. - Unknown
Giving
Don't be afraid of giving.
For a while, we may need to back off from giving as we learn to discern the difference between healthy giving and caretaking, which leave us feeling victimized and others feeling resentful.
This is a temporary spot.
To be healthy, to do our part in this spiritual way of life, to be part of the endless cycle of the Universe, guided by our Creator, we need to give and receive.
Both parts are important.
What is healthy giving?
This is a fine lined behavior each of us must seek to understand for ourselves. It is giving that feels good and does not leave us feeling victimized.
It is giving that holds the giver and the receiver in high esteem.
It is giving based on a desire to do it rather than from a sense of guilt, pity, shame, or obligation.
It is giving with no strings attached. Or it is giving based on a clean, direct contract.
Whether it is giving our time, efforts, energy, comfort, nurturing, money, or ourselves, it is giving that we can afford.
Giving is part of the chain of giving and receiving. We can learn to give in healthy ways; we can learn to give in love. We need to keep an eye on our giving, to make sure it has not crossed the line into caretaking. But we need to learn to give in ways that work for us and others.
Today, Higher Power, guide me in my giving. Help me give to others in healthy ways. Help me give what feels right, what feels good, what feels clean, and what I can afford.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
Kindness in giving creates love. --Lao-tzu.
In our illness, we takers. Now, we've changed this around. We are now givers. Giving is a big part of recovery. Our word for it is service. Our program is based on care, respect, and service. Our program tells us to “practice these principles in all our affairs." No matter if it's getting to our meeting early to put on the coffee, or going on a Twelfth Step call, we are giving of ourselves. We give so that we know we can make a difference. We give so that we can know how to love better. The healing power of recovery is love. As we give love and kindness to others, we heal. Why? Because people grow by giving kindness and love to others.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power with Your help I'll be a kind and loving giver. I'll look for way to share Your kindness.
Action for the Day: Today, I'll list five ways I can be of service to others. I'll put at least one of these ways into action today.
Step Twelve
"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps,
we tried to carry this message to alcoholics (addicts),
and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
The Twelfth Step seems to carry this implicit warning:
"If you are not having at least the beginnings of a spiritual awakening,
it would be well to look back over the Steps and find out where you are failing."
And there are no qualifying words, such as "maybe," "perhaps," or "perchance."
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], pp. 180-181
Thought to Ponder . . .
A spiritual awakening is our greatest gift.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S T E P S = Solutions Through Each Positive Step
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Daily Motivation
The courage to live
You have plenty of things to worry about. And yet, worrying won’t accomplish anything positive.
Though life has many actual and potential difficulties, those difficulties are easily outnumbered by the positive possibilities. You have the courage to live, fully and from the heart, and to continue bringing those positive possibilities to life.
Every moment is precious, so give each moment the respect and attention it deserves. You certainly don’t want to waste your time being resentful or fearful about other times.
You have so very much to give to life, so put your focus on being your most positive and most effective self. Use your energy to create maximum value and meaning out of every day.
Life has its daunting challenges, and you absolutely have the courage to face every one. The more you make use of that courage, the more invincible it becomes.
Your courage to live has brought you here. Use it now, and again and again, and bring more great value to life.
— Ralph Marston
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