The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today's reading talks about Step 3 - "Made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood him." - and the profound peace that comes when we commit to this step in our program. The reading shares a story about a relative diagnosed with a brain tumor. The writer was suggesting courses of action and the ill relative was not taking the desired action of the writer.
An outsider explained that the treatments our writer was championing could have dire results worse than the brain tumor. The writer of today's reading suggests that at that moment, they realized the limits of our own understanding. She/he realized that the sense of urgency felt had to do from fear and that her/his only true course of action was to turn that fear and her love for her relative over the the care of HP. They could no longer pretend to know what was best for another, no matter the situation.
Today's reminder --- I am not a rocket scientist, a philosopher, or a wizard. Even if I were all three, I would still find myself looking off the edge of my understanding into a vast unknown. As I recognize my own limitations, I am more grateful than ever for a Higher Power who is free from such restrictions.
Today's quote --- From Plato -- "...Time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain, therefore, awhile from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest maters."
This drives home how things worked in my life. I exhausted everything I could think of as well as what was suggested from professionals and non-professionals to fix those around me so I could be happy. Just the irony in how I processed before Al-Anon was distorted to a point of view that makes no sense now!
When I have turned my life and will over to my HP, God, I still have troubles, challenges and life issues. What is different is I now can better see what's within my scope and what is not. When I have a disagreement with another, I no longer focus on who/what started it. Rather, I see where I could have harmed others, how can I do better and I apologize for my part. I then let go and expect nothing in return as I have no control over others.
Trusting God to lead me where he wants me to be helps me avoid so many pitfalls I fell into before. So often, my best course of action in most situations is to listen for content and not judge. Works well for me.
TGIF all - off to golf in a short while - make it a great day!!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
HI iAM Thank you for posting this important reminder. Making a decsion to trun my will and life over was not an easy one. I remember trying to do so on little unimportant issues and finding myself amazed at the results. Today when I open my eyes, I say the 3rd Step prayer and mean it.
Have a lovely day.
Thank you for today's reading and message! This is something I still need to remind myself every single day - to turn it over to my HP. Guess I'm still struggling with the control thing. However, I am more aware now and any of the steps I follow and work through, the more serene I am.
Great shares all - we've had a break in our horribly warm temperatures and had a gentle shower during the night and into the morning! We actually played golf in sprinkles for the first few holes and it was perfectly fine! My golf game is sucking wind and I have got to let it go!!! I am to play softball tonight as well so have a nap planned.
I am with you Betty - I try to start each day with program effort and by using the 3rd step prayer to remind me who's in charge. Of course, I woke up late and abbreviated my morning routine to get to golf and wonder if that's part of my golf experience!
I do love that I get to play with my sponsor and she doesn't care if I suck or not. That helps me learn the game and grow into it. I am becoming my own worse enemy with it - because I just want to be a great golfer as a beginner with little/no practice. Old habits die hard - need to apply my program to my golf experience!!!
(((Hugs))) to all - make it a great day!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Calm Lady, I like that! I also am letting go of running the world. I was so good at it, too! Lol.
I am also loving not being everyone's judge and jury. Phew, that was a tireless job.
Hugs,
El
Lol! Let's resign together!
Oh yes, judging everyone, also mind reading them so I could anticipate their needs and rush in to fill them!! Also known as 'meddling' and smothering! I resign from that too.
This reading is absolutely what I needed to hear today.
My niece is thinking about living with her parents again (she is 29) but she is sober for 14 months, and the last time she visited her folks she started using again. I thought I knew best about this situation; I thought she needed to find another place to stay, rather than be in environment that might be slippery for her. I asked a few of my recovery friends and I got a lot of feedback on that, not all the feedback was what I wanted to hear.
What I heard was that she might be much better off going to her folks for several reasons. And, that she also has a Higher Power who is looking out for her, AND if she really wants sobriety she will keep it.
I thought I knew best, but after a few days of thinking about all this, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not in charge and my ideas probably wouldn't work for her. What HP has in store for her probably will be the best.
I've been in the program a long time, so on occasion I think I know something. Well I know how to stay sober and keep my spiritual condition fit for me, but not for someone else. That's their job and HP will be looking out for her and others. I don't need to fix.
(p.s. my granddaughter also has a tumor which was discovered 15 years ago. My husband and I decided to stay out of the medical business and let (let?) her parents and her HP decide what was best for her. She is still living beautifully and we love her very much).
Hugs.
-- Edited by PatG1025 on Friday 12th of August 2016 02:18:24 PM
