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.
The C2C reading for December 18 speaks about the old saying trust in God and tie your camel to a tree. The reading suggests that this is a way of saying that we must do the footwork and HP will do the rest ".
We must first trust HP because trusting is a way of affirming that we are willing to be receptive to whatever HP chooses for us. We do not resign ourselves to our fate however we meet each day with confident expectations. We expect good but we cannot expect our Higher Power to do for us what we can clearly do for ourselves. We must do our part.
The 12 steps help us to distinguish between our responsibility and those we turn to God. We can give thanks for the guidance of HP and for the measure of common sense needed to apply this guidance to our lives.
The quote is from In All our Affairs; "no one else can define our role in the unique partnership we develop with our Higher Power."
Learning how to turn my will and life over was a process and one I do each day. I may not be given what I wanted or expected, and I have been given the courage, and wisdom to see it through. The 11th Step suggests that we will be given the "Power ot carry it out"
Thanks Betty. This reminds me to start using my old trusty slogan combo again...."do the next right thing" and 'let go and let HP". One foot in front of the other and let HP figure out the rest, basically. I have found that when I adopt this attitude and habit, things tend to not only work out well but quite often better than I could have imagined.
Good reminder for this time of year when there is so much going on and I slip back into the role of "manager of the universe" without realising it.
Thank you for your service, Betty, and both for your ESH. I love that saying! Great reminder that the program doesn't do it all for us, it starts by us being willing to lay the groundwork. I'm so grateful for the guidance of the Program, and the realization that I don't know how everything 'should' go...gotta turn it over to my higher power
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
A beautiful balance. It's a releif to hand over and exciting to see what comes. For me, i often am so tied up in fear i feel i can't move. That small voice within pushes me. I've found that listening to it leads me where i should be and doing my part is not as scary in practice as it was in theory. I am a slow student brimning with naiive exuberance most times. So yes, handing over my will is a process that gains depth with time. likewise one foot steadily in front of the other.
Thank you for your Service Betty.
Thank you Betty for your service and today's reading + your ESH! I am reminded of my attitude and approach before recovery --- pray for what I think I need and get angry when it didn't just magically happened. *sigh*
I am grateful that today is all I need to focus on, and that aligning with God works far, far better than any other path I've tried. It is said very, very often that faith without works is dead in the other side of this program. The exact written words are, "Now we need more action, without which we find that 'Faith without works is dead.' Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. It says, straight up, for anyone to hear, see, read and/or accept that faith alone does not propel us to sanity, recovery or serenity. We must do the work. We must work the steps. We must suit up, show up and be open each day to what we are to be a part of...
I am grateful for recovery. I am grateful to be able to Let Go and Let God. I am grateful that we get to move along our spiritual journey at a rate that works for us. I am glad that MIP is here for all of us! Thanks for the lovely shares all...
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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
