"We had but two alternatives; one was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could, and the other was to accept spiritual help. We became willing to maintain a certain simple attitude toward life. What seemed at first a flimsy reed has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us, a design for living that really works. All of us establish in our own individual way our personal relationship with God." Have I established my own relationship with God?
Meditation For The Day
Make it a daily practice to review your character. Take your character in relation to your daily life, to your dear ones, your friends, your acquaintances, and your work. Each day try to see where God wants you to change. Plan how best each fault can be eradicated or each mistake be corrected. Never be satisfied with a comparison with those around you. Strive toward a better life as your ultimate goal. God is your helper through weakness to power, through danger to security, through fear and worry to peace and serenity.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may make real progress toward a better life. I pray that I may never be satisfied with my present state.
Never be satisfied with a comparison with those around you. Strive toward a better life as your ultimate goal.
Thanks for this post. The line above really hit home with me today. I realize how much I compare myself to others to try to see how I am doing, not only in sobriety but in all aspects of my life. Good to remember that I am on my own path and need to srtive for a better life FOR ME. NOT compared to anyone else....
"We had but two alternatives; one was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could, and the other was to accept spiritual help."
A theme that keeps coming to me about alcoholism is that it is an absolute Isolater. One path, 'going on to the bitter end', is a path of complete isolation from others; a lonely solitary path to the end.
The other path, 'accepting spiritual help', is one that requires taking the wobbly steps toward reaching out... to HP and to others in recovery, and for me, even reaching out to a good doctor and therapist.
But given those two choices, which I was, at the end of my drinking, I swallowed my fear and began to reach out. I am so glad I did.
As far as reviewing my character, I am a sick puppy, and I often need to review my character with the help of my sponsor and others in recovery. I can still 'kid myself' when it comes to my own motives, they are so deeply ingrained. But having loving people in my life, along with the courage to be real with them about me, is easier knowing that these people love me and have my best interest at heart.
"We had but two alternatives; one was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could, and the other was to accept spiritual help."
Hi Toni,
You have just reminded me of exactly where I was just over nine months ago when I crawled back to AA. Before AA, I spent all of my waking hours blotting out everything that I possibly could. I couldn't see anything good in my life or any purpose to it.
I have, at last, found spiritual help, peace and guidance, too.
I was travelling a lonely path to hell. But, through AA I have discovered that I am not on a lonely path any more. I have numerous friends, all of whom are good and true. I walk in friendship with my AA friends on our personal roads to recovery.
Thank you for reminding me.
Have a great Sunday.
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
