Give what you would want to recieve

You are reading from the book Today's Gift.

Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.--Madeline Bridges

Sometimes we feel lazy or bored, and then we don't do our best work. Maybe our writing becomes hard to read, or we miss a porch when delivering newspapers. Perhaps we are daydreaming instead of listening closely to what a friend is trying to tell us. When we are not really paying attention to our activities or the people around us, we'll likely miss out on something important because we do receive in equal measure what we give. And this truth works in every aspect of our lives.

When we treat our friends, our families, even people we don't know well with kindness, we'll experience kindness in return. Our own actions and attitudes toward others are what we can expect from others as well.

How can I increase the kindness in the world today?

This has proven so true for me over and over again. When I wake up and start my day off with negative thinking and dread everything I have to get through.......the day seems to last forever and every possible problem know to man will happen to me. When I approach the day from the prespective of gratitude for another day alive and sober, that I get to go out and do some more of God's work......the day seems to fly by and things seem to go wnderfully. There are always tragedies or problems that pop into our lives here and there, but if I am in a positive frame of mind and relying on my Higher Power, then they are just minor problems that together we cn over come. Hope you all have a day filled with gratitude and happiness.

Unconditional Love

Unconditional love does not mean that you accept or condone mistreatment. It does not mean you excuse people their faults and frailities. It does mean you see them, accept them and love them, despite the things you may not like about them. If Rhonda had known that, she could have learned to laugh with her daddy, to have fun with him when he was available. When he was not available to her, she would not have blamed herself. She would not have believed that she lacked anything she needed to get love.

Taken From "Yesterday, I Cried" by Iyanla Vanzant

This is a lesson I must work hard on right now. I am in a situation with someone very close to me. This person has no idea what unconditional love is. I have a responsiblity in that. Ultimately, words without action, will do little to accomplish this. I have dropped empty words for far too long. This is a lesson that must be taught by example. Now is the time I must lead by example, my unconditional love of this person despite the things I don't like. There is a fine line though that I have been forced to look at, and that is the one of accepting or condoning mistreatment. Therefore, my example of uncontional love must give voice to the mistreatment while unconditional accepting that which I don't like. This will be a huge challenge for me. There will be much heartache along this path. I have faith that my Higher Power has placed this challenge before me for an important reason. That reason, a most precious child of God, is worth the struggle. With my Higher Power at my side, I stand a very real chance at breaking the cycle this disease creates. That is ultimately what makes the struggle to be the face of unconditional love worth it, and my Higher Power will not fail me if I only remember to say yes I accept your challenge.

Letting Go

My Dear Child:
I know that you have issues with trust, and it's often difficult for you to believe in me.

So it may seem hard for you to accept my unconditional love and the idea that I am indeed concerned with every aspect of your life. You are in this place because I brought you here. Be open to what I have to tell you, show you and give you.

Your disease helped you cope with your life before. It made it tolerable, but now its time to let go of the ways of the past. I have such big plans for you! Trust that these plans are good. I did not bring you this far to let you fail. You are at the edge of the cliff, and I keep calling for you to step off. You shout, "I'll fall" but I am telling you, you'll fly and soar like an eagle.

You are stronger than you know. I will empower you if you ask me. I will help you make all the difficult decisions and keep the committment. I will put people in your life to help you. I will never allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to resist, or even ask anything of you that I haven't already empowered you to do.

Those inner yearnings you have are also my desires for you, for peace, prosperity, love, and recovery. I want you to have all of them.

Love, Your Higher Power

I am at the jumping off place. I am trusting that I am here because you have brought me here. Therefore, I will have the strength to endure and in the end I will soar. Though I cannot see it, I am counting on your words and pray that you bring me to that place that is good, where I will live in peace, prosperity, love and recovery.