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.
Todays reading is a focus on step 11: sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
The writer describes experiencing a lack of consistency throughout a childhood with an alcoholic father and a mother who tried many strategies to manage a chaotic household. The result was a child who kept to him/herself and felt there was no way to depend on the adults for anything. The writers work with a sponsor helped develop consistency and also a better relationship with God. The writer acknowledged to the sponsor that he/she understood that God was there and would take care of all situations; it was here that the sponsor added the word always. This word became a symbol for the writer that God/HP is consistently available to us. The writer understood that this works only if we are willing to turn our will over and listen for Gods will. The thought for the day reminds us: Connecting is a two-way street. God is already waiting for me, so the next step is mine.
Having grown up with church and faith as a foundation, praying and speaking to God has always felt natural. What has changed and become more meaningful for me over time are the conversations with God. While being in a church always feels peaceful and calming (familiar) to me, I have had as many connections to HP when running, or on the beach watching waves come in, hearing birds in the neighborhood or wondering at the miracle of my kids. There are times that I have specific and detailed thoughts in my prayers, but many other times it is as simple as I am listening. Help me see.
Thank you for your service, Mary. I hope this Sunday finds you healthy of body and peaceful of mind!!
This was a rough week for me, as I attended the funeral mass for my best friend's father. Brought all my fears of losing my parents to the forefront of my mind, so I had FEAR on top of sadness for my friend. To top that off, things that I witnessed both before the mass & during, just reminded me of the hypocrisy that can occur in organized religion. We, after all, are only Human. However, I recognize that those ceremonies are what help my BFF to move forward through Life & not wallow in despair, so I respect them. More often than not, I see my Higher Power in the natural world. That is how we commune. Today, I am much more cognizant that I need to be open and willing to accept my HP's path for me... and to be Grateful for the steps that move me through this thing we call Life!
It is gloriously sunny here (but not hot - thankfully), so I am going to commune with Mother Earth by planting a new variety of strawberry today. They are called "PineBerries," but are just really a leucistic strawberry! LOL! But I have heard very wonderful things about this strawberry, so I am excited!
I also had my first harvest (a large one) of blueberries and strawberries - was able to give them to my mom & dad for a treat. Those kind of things make my heart sing!
& y"al!
__________________
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
& 
y"al!