Thursday, February 22, 2018
Today's Gift
In the face of being hunted for extermination, Anne Frank could write this from her hiding place in an attic. Was she naive? No. She deeply believed in the goodness of creation and the goodness of all creatures, including those who persecuted and murdered her people.
Somehow, young as she was, Anne Frank knew a truth we sometimes lose: that it is not what people do that makes them good or evil. It is who they are. And for Anne Frank, all people are made in the image of their Higher Power--and therefore, deep down at their core, must be good. She was able to see through the brutality and hatred to that true creation of the Universe.
We are left in awe at such faith and love. But we can draw from it too, and when our brother or sister or parent or child does something to hurt us, we can remember Anne Frank's ability to see what is good. We can look beneath the hurtful actions and forgive.
Amends
Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past.
We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated
out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves.
If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes.
Remember it was agreed at the beginning
we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76
Thought to Ponder
It is the highest form of self-respect
to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Accountable Actions
Offering of love
Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind. --Helen Keller
Facing conditions we would like to change, letting go of people we wish were different, takes growth, patience, tolerance. We're so easily enticed into thinking we'd be happier, "If only he'd change," or "If I had a better job," or "If the kids would settle down." Yet we carry the seed of happiness within us every moment. Learning tolerance for all conditions will nurture that seed.
Intolerance, impatience, depression, in fact, any negative attitude is habit-forming. Many of us continue to struggle with the habits we've formed. Bad habits must be replaced with new, good habits. We can develop a new behavior, one that pleases us, like smiling at every stranger in a checkout line. We can repeat it in every line. It becomes a habit and a good one.
Toleration of others opens many doors, for them and for us. It nurtures the soul, ours and theirs. It breeds happiness. Those of us sharing this attribute are truly blessed. We're learning about love, how to give it and how to receive it.
There are so many eyes I'll look into today that don't know love. I will give some away with unconditional tolerance. It's a gift--to myself and others.
From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey ©
From: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation - Thought for the Day http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/recovery/thought-for-the-day
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. --Anne Frank
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. --Anne Frank
In the face of being hunted for extermination, Anne Frank could write this from her hiding place in an attic. Was she naive? No. She deeply believed in the goodness of creation and the goodness of all creatures, including those who persecuted and murdered her people.
Somehow, young as she was, Anne Frank knew a truth we sometimes lose: that it is not what people do that makes them good or evil. It is who they are. And for Anne Frank, all people are made in the image of their Higher Power--and therefore, deep down at their core, must be good. She was able to see through the brutality and hatred to that true creation of the Universe.
We are left in awe at such faith and love. But we can draw from it too, and when our brother or sister or parent or child does something to hurt us, we can remember Anne Frank's ability to see what is good. We can look beneath the hurtful actions and forgive.
Action for the Day: Today I will forgive someone who has hurt me.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
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One Day At A Time
Amends
Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past.
We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated
out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves.
If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes.
Remember it was agreed at the beginning
we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76
Thought to Ponder
It is the highest form of self-respect
to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Accountable Actions
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Offering of love
by Ralph Marston
There’s a job to do, and as difficult and demanding as it may be, it never has to be a fight. Let it be an offering of love.
You have the opportunity to invest your time and energy in something worthwhile. Choose to do the work with gratitude and a positive presence.
Decide to find fulfillment in working through the complications instead of automatically reacting with frustration. Recognize value in the challenges rather than letting your attitude be poisoned with resentment.
The work demands much of you. Remind yourself what a good thing that is.
Your intention makes all the difference in the way the work unfolds, in the value that you create. Proceed and persist with the intention to offer your best, to offer your love.
You are spending your irreplaceable time on the work, so make it time well spent. Make it an offering of love.
There’s a job to do, and as difficult and demanding as it may be, it never has to be a fight. Let it be an offering of love.
You have the opportunity to invest your time and energy in something worthwhile. Choose to do the work with gratitude and a positive presence.
Decide to find fulfillment in working through the complications instead of automatically reacting with frustration. Recognize value in the challenges rather than letting your attitude be poisoned with resentment.
The work demands much of you. Remind yourself what a good thing that is.
Your intention makes all the difference in the way the work unfolds, in the value that you create. Proceed and persist with the intention to offer your best, to offer your love.
You are spending your irreplaceable time on the work, so make it time well spent. Make it an offering of love.
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