Today's reading from courage to change talks about patience with program, self and growth.  It opens with the story about a stonecutter who strikes a stone 99 times with no impact - no split, no chip - no apparent effect whatsoever!  Yet, with the 100th strike on the stone, it splits in two.  It was NOT the final blow that did the trick, but rather all that had gone before.

This is true in recovery as well.  We might be working on ourselves, self-pity, acceptance, or another part of us for a long while feeling as if there is no change.  We even at times wonder if we are wasting our time.  However, the suggestions we receive - meetings, sharing our struggles, taking it one day at a time and being patient with ourselves are the 99 strikes!  One day, it seems we wake up and realize a change in ourselves.  Perhaps we now have acceptance or detachment or even serenity that we've been working for/on.  Even if you realize a result abruptly - such as overnight - the reality is all the previous works are somewhat equal to the 99 strikes at that stone above.

If we are patient with ourselves as we work on recovery, we do change, answers do come and peace results.  

Today's reminder - We are often reminded to "Keep Coming Back."  Today I will remember that this not only applies to meetings, but to learning the new attitudes and behavior that are the long-term benefits of Al-Anon recovery.  I may not see the results today, but I can trust that I am making progress.

Today's Quote is from Youth and the Alcoholic Parent ---  "Try to be patient with yourself and your family.  It took a long time for the disease of alcoholism to affect each and every one and it may take a long time for everyone to recover."

Way before coming to Al-Anon, I described myself often as lacking in patience.  I am one who wants what I want when I want it.  That part of me that assumed my way was the right way and pushed forward fast and furious for a solution was flawed.  It wasn't that I was wrong in what I wanted, it was that I pushed, controlled and bulldozed others to try and get there in my time frame.  Learning to live One Day at a Time and to let go and let God was often very hard for me when I first got here.

By listening and practicing every aspect of this program, I slowly began to see how much I thought I could control was not within my scope at all!  If I kept my focus on me and my side of the street, and practiced being kind, considerate and listening for direction from HP, my inner fury began to diminish.  I could see at times that God was literally doing for me things I could not do for myself.

I have learned to be kind to me, be patient with me, accept myself as an imperfect person in a beautiful imperfect world.  I feel at times I am not only a work in progress but a creation that is still being worked on - a piece of art if you will - with the artist working slowly but steadily for an end result that just can't be imagined.

Happy Thursday to one and all - make it a great day!!