Monday, November 5, 2018
Today's Gift
... [To] take something from yourself, to give to another, that is humane and gentle and never takes away as much comfort as it brings again. --Thomas More
We take different kinds of pleasure in giving. Perhaps the purest is the gift to a child so young it doesn't really know who the gift came from; the pure joy that the teddy bear or pull-toy produces is our regard, unmixed by any expectation of return.
When children get older, we want something back from them: gratitude, respect. The gift is less pure. When lovers exchange gifts, their pleasure is often tinged with anxiety: Did I give more than I got? Did I get more than I gave? Or with power: They'll always remember where they got that shirt; they owe me something for the jacket.
To friends and relations our gifts reflect many things: our appreciation of their lives, our shared memories, our prosperity. We tend to give in a spirit of self-expression.
Perhaps the closest we can come to a pure gift is an anonymous one; a gift of volunteer work, of blood, or a contribution to a charity. Such a gift which can never be acknowledged or returned by those it comforts can heal our spirits when they are wearied by too much ego.
The gift of myself can be a gift to myself.
From the book The Promise of a New Day by Karen Casey & Martha Vanceburg. ©
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
How full life can be! We can untie the ribbons on this gift by keeping our spirits open.
Open to life. Open to how much our Higher Power love us.
Who knows what the gifts the day may bring? Maybe it brings a solution to a problem.
Maybe it brings the smile of a child. Maybe we’ll find a new friend. Whatever gifts the day brings, we must be able to receive them. How do we do this? We keep our spirit open and lively through prayer and meditation. Then we’ll be awake to see the beauty and the wonders life holds for us.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, remind me to pray to You often. Remind me to stop and listen to You. Remind me that You love me very much.
Action for the Day: At the end of the day, I’ll take time to list the gifts I’ve been given today. This will be first on my list: I am sober.
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
During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound
result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. And this was true
whether we had been believers or unbelievers. We began to get over the
idea that the Higher Power was a sort of bush-league pinch hitter, to be
called upon only in an emergency. The notion that we would still live our
own lives, our Higher Power helping a little now and then, began to evaporate.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 75
Thought to Ponder
The difference between pride and humility:
Pride is who is right. Humility is what is right.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Amazing Adventure
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
Those who achieve are those who give. The greatest leaders are the leaders who are most devoted to service.
Every encounter, every challenge, every relationship, every situation is an opportunity to give of yourself. Each day brings with it new ways to create value for the people around you.
Think of the individuals you most sincerely admire. You’ll see that they all make it a habit to give of themselves to life.
It is not always easy to give of yourself. It takes discipline, commitment, creativity, humility, preparation, effort and resilience.
What it brings is true fulfillment. Give your best to each moment, and you fill the world with rich meaning.
Do the work, make the commitment, and discover all the good and valuable things you have to give. Make a gift of who you are, and be amazed at what you become.
Those who achieve are those who give. The greatest leaders are the leaders who are most devoted to service.
Every encounter, every challenge, every relationship, every situation is an opportunity to give of yourself. Each day brings with it new ways to create value for the people around you.
Think of the individuals you most sincerely admire. You’ll see that they all make it a habit to give of themselves to life.
It is not always easy to give of yourself. It takes discipline, commitment, creativity, humility, preparation, effort and resilience.
What it brings is true fulfillment. Give your best to each moment, and you fill the world with rich meaning.
Do the work, make the commitment, and discover all the good and valuable things you have to give. Make a gift of who you are, and be amazed at what you become.
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