Recovery
Meditations: June 8th
TOGETHERNESS
"The Praying
Hands – let them be your reminder,
if you need one, that
no one ever makes it alone."
Anonymous
"I don't need a sponsor; God and I walk alone."
"Why do I need to go to a meeting tonight? I'll be OK;
I've got other things I need to be doing."
"I can't sponsor, I haven't worked enough of the Steps
yet, and besides, I haven't got time; it takes all my time to do MY
program."
When my thoughts drift in these directions, I am reminded of
an old picture my grandfather had of "The Praying Hands" and of the
story of two brothers, Albrecht and Albert Durer, both gifted in art.
The Durer family was poor and only one brother could go to
art school, so they tossed a coin; Albrecht went to art school while Albert
worked hard to pay his brother's tuition at the Academy in Nuremburg.
After a few years, the artist, Albrecht, said to his brother
Albert, "I can afford for you to go to art school now, so I will finance
YOUR education." But Albert, who had worked so hard in the dangerous
mines, looked down at his work-worn, arthritic hands which had been smashed
numerous times, and knew it was too late for him. He would never be an artist.
So Albrecht painted his brother's hands and they are the hands we now see in
copies of the painting ... two hands lifted up towards a Power Greater.
I know that I, too, have my Higher Power waiting to help me
if only I seek the help I need. I am reminded of the friends I have found in
the fellowship. I remember how it feels to hold the hand of a shaky newcomer at
the end of their first meeting, or the hand of my sponsor who reaches out to
give me comfort when I share a personal hurt.
One Day at a Time . .
.
Alone I have proved
again and again that I am defenseless over my disease, but together – TOGETHER
- with my Higher Power and all of my fellows, I have a Power and Strength I
never believed possible.
~ Marlene
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Each Day a New Beginning
The process of living, for each of
us, is pretty similar. For every gain there is a setback. For every
success, a failure. For every moment of joy, a time of sadness. For
every hope realized, one is dashed.
—Sue Atchley Ebaugh
The balance of events in our lives is much like the balance of nature. The pendulum swings; every extreme condition is offset by its opposite, and we learn to appreciate the gifts . . . of the bad times as well as the periods of rest.
On occasion we'll discover that our course in life has changed direction. We need not be alarmed. Step Three has promised that we are in caring hands. Our every concern, every detail of our lives will be taken care of, in the right way, at the right time.
We can develop gratitude for all conditions, good or bad. Each has its necessary place in our development as healthy, happy women. We need the sorrows along with the joys if we are to gain new insights. Our failures keep us humble; they remind us of our need for the care and guidance of others. And for every hope dashed, we can remember, one will be realized.
Life is a process. I will accept the variations with gratitude. Each, in its own way, blesses me.
—Sue Atchley Ebaugh
The balance of events in our lives is much like the balance of nature. The pendulum swings; every extreme condition is offset by its opposite, and we learn to appreciate the gifts . . . of the bad times as well as the periods of rest.
On occasion we'll discover that our course in life has changed direction. We need not be alarmed. Step Three has promised that we are in caring hands. Our every concern, every detail of our lives will be taken care of, in the right way, at the right time.
We can develop gratitude for all conditions, good or bad. Each has its necessary place in our development as healthy, happy women. We need the sorrows along with the joys if we are to gain new insights. Our failures keep us humble; they remind us of our need for the care and guidance of others. And for every hope dashed, we can remember, one will be realized.
Life is a process. I will accept the variations with gratitude. Each, in its own way, blesses me.
From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey
© 1982, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation.
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Food for Thought
Trick or Treat
Our devious minds have a way of enticing us with visions of sugar plum "goodies" which can trick us into forgetting that we are compulsive overeaters. What may once have been a treat is now, for us, poison. The so-called treat can trick us into taking the first compulsive bite, which we know is always our downfall.
Our devious minds have a way of enticing us with visions of sugar plum "goodies" which can trick us into forgetting that we are compulsive overeaters. What may once have been a treat is now, for us, poison. The so-called treat can trick us into taking the first compulsive bite, which we know is always our downfall.
We need to change our thinking so that we no
longer consider refined sugars and starches and former binge foods to be
treats. Eating them has caused us great unhappiness in the past, and we
will not be deluded into thinking that another time will be different.
Through the OA program, we are gaining the
self-knowledge which arms us against the assaults of temptation. Our
enemy is clever. We need the protection of our Higher Power and the
strength that comes from working the Twelve Steps.
Protect me, Lord.
From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L.
©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation
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The Language of Letting Go
Fun
Have some fun - with life, with the day.
Life is not drudgery; that is an old belief. Let go of it. We are on an adventure, a journey. Events will come to pass that we cannot now fathom.
Replace heaviness and weariness of spirit with joy. Surround yourself with people and things that bring lightness of spirit.
Become sensitive to lightness of spirit.
The journey can be an exciting adventure. Let yourself enjoy it.
God, help me let go of my need to meet dysfunctional challenges in my relationships.
Have some fun - with life, with the day.
Life is not drudgery; that is an old belief. Let go of it. We are on an adventure, a journey. Events will come to pass that we cannot now fathom.
Replace heaviness and weariness of spirit with joy. Surround yourself with people and things that bring lightness of spirit.
Become sensitive to lightness of spirit.
The journey can be an exciting adventure. Let yourself enjoy it.
God, help me let go of my need to meet dysfunctional challenges in my relationships.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie
©1990, Hazelden Foundation
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Today's thought from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:
...setting aside our carefulness with each other...
If we cannot tolerate our mistakes, we will never be able to move on from this place. If we do not step up to the plate with bat in hand, we will grow old without knowing what first base is like.
Life is a risk. A committed relationship is a risk. Letting ourselves go, voicing opinions, telling our deepest feelings, playing frivolously at the park, setting aside our carefulness with each other and sometimes falling flat on our faces -- all these things give us the pleasure of being alive. If we insist on playing it safe, then we never feel the thrill of the game. Our lives with each other become flat and empty if we do not take some risks. We have a right to be weak as well as strong; a right to be respected when we feel silly as much as when we appear dignified; a right to say what we believe even if it is half-baked. The greatest mistake is never to engage life.
Think of one thing you would like to do with your partner if you could set aside all judgments and evaluations.
If we cannot tolerate our mistakes, we will never be able to move on from this place. If we do not step up to the plate with bat in hand, we will grow old without knowing what first base is like.
Life is a risk. A committed relationship is a risk. Letting ourselves go, voicing opinions, telling our deepest feelings, playing frivolously at the park, setting aside our carefulness with each other and sometimes falling flat on our faces -- all these things give us the pleasure of being alive. If we insist on playing it safe, then we never feel the thrill of the game. Our lives with each other become flat and empty if we do not take some risks. We have a right to be weak as well as strong; a right to be respected when we feel silly as much as when we appear dignified; a right to say what we believe even if it is half-baked. The greatest mistake is never to engage life.
Think of one thing you would like to do with your partner if you could set aside all judgments and evaluations.
You are reading from the book:
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