Recovery Meditations: March 13th

LOVE

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage."

- - Lao Tzu


As we explore our twelve step program and peel away the onion that is us, we find many parts of ourself that we had never known before. Those parts have always been there ... we just weren't aware of the importance of them. Suddenly, as though it were a lightbulb flashing, it hits us full in the face and we find ourself seeing what our deepest need in life is.

It took practically a lifetime to realize that my deepest need was to love and to be loved. How could I have lived so long and not realized that before? I am grateful that the twelve step program gave me the ability to feel love, perhaps for the very first time. I am also grateful that this beautiful way of living also gave me the ability to give love.

One day at a time ... I will keep my heart open for opportunities to love ... and quietly but expectantly to be loved.

~ Mari

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When I was eating & drinking compulsively, I was so OUT of touch with my feelings that was unable to feel pain OR joy.  Love & Happiness took a backseat to addiction, which excludes everything & everyone from penetrating the wall.

I lost sight of God and His will for me as I pursued my own manic will. Nobody was going to tell ME what to do, or say, or think, etc.  I was a willful child, stamping my feet to get my way.

There is an old AA slogan that goes:

"When I came to recovery I realized that being a child for 28 years nearly killed me."

In my case, I was a child for 40-some years.................

When I allow God into my life, I realize that Love is all there is.  Without love for myself, I cannot recover. Without love for others, my life is empty & shallow.  

For today, I offer love to everyone in my life.