In loving memory of Mae Vera Webb

 Broken Chain Little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide, and though we cannot see you, you are always by our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Third step prayer

God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!

Detaching in Relationships

Detaching in Relationships

When we first become exposed to the concept of detachment, many of us find it objectionable and questionable. We may think that detaching means we don't care. We may believe that by controlling, worrying, and trying to force things to happen, we're showing how much we care.

We may believe that controlling, worrying, and forcing will somehow affect the outcome we desire. Controlling, worrying, and forcing don't work. Even when we're right, controlling doesn't work. In some cases, controlling may prevent the outcome we want from happening.

As we practice the principle of detachment with the people in our life, we slowly begin to learn the truth. Detaching, preferably detaching with love, is a relationship behavior that works.

We learn something else too. Detachment - letting go of our need to control people - enhances all our relationships. It opens the door to the best possible outcome. It reduces our frustration level, and frees us and others to live in peace and harmony.

Detachment means we care, about others and ourselves. It frees us to make the best possible decisions. It enables us to set the boundaries we need to set with people. It allows us to have our feelings, to stop reacting and initiate a positive course of action. It encourages others to do the same.

It allows our Higher Power to step in and work.

Today, I will trust the process of detaching with love. I will understand that I am not just letting go; I am letting go and letting God. I'm loving others, but I'm loving myself too.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990,

our reactions

Our Reactions
The next time you find yourself stuck in a long line at an ATM machine, traffic jam, or supermarket checkout counter, resist your urge to react. Do not get frustrated. Do not become impatient. Do not get angry. The line is there to test you, and to give you an opportunity not to react. But if you do react, the situation controls you. The situation becomes the cause and you the effect.
~Yehuda Berg

Today's Affirmation
Today, I experience love wherever I go.

Today's Meditation

Know that you have divine resources within you to get you successfully through any problem or difficulty.
You have enough energy, enough abundance, enough creative ideas, enough emotional and mental support, enough healing-know that you have within you all that you need to get you through every situation.
God within you is always enough.
God is always sufficient.
Your every need is met in God.
You are filled with the presence and power of light and energy.
You have what it takes within you to move with confidence and expectancy into the fulfillment you desire.
And so it is.

Past the Past

"Failed recovery is responding to present-day situations with yesterday's emotional package-which you used back when the situation was totally different. Serenity or living in a state of recovery is all about letting yesterday be yesterday and today be today. Recovery is training ourselves by practicing daily disciplines to act in the present as the present and not from the emotional stance of a thousand past yesterdays."
~Earnie Larsen

Today's Affirmation
I am past the past—my time is now!

Today's Meditation
Dear God,

I do not understand why I hang onto certain events and feelings from the past.
Intellectually I accept and understand that the past is over.
I honor my story and recognize the part that all of my yesterdays played in bringing me to now.
I release and surrender past hurts, loves, jobs, wrongs, mis-creations, missed opportunities, experiences, joys, and sorrows.
I forgive myself and all other persons knowing that we did the best we knew how.
Those times are over; the past is past.
I choose to be fully awake and alive in this moment.
With Your guidance, I open myself to the gift of the present.
Thank You, God.
Amen

Letting Go

Letting Go

Stop trying so hard to control things. It is not our job to control people, outcomes, circumstances, and life. Maybe in the past we couldn't trust and let things happen. But we can now. The way life is unfolding is good. Let it unfold.

Stop trying so hard to do better, be better, and be more. Who we are and the way we do things is good enough for today.

Who we were and the way we did things yesterday was good enough for that day.

Ease up on ourselves. Let go. Stop trying so hard.

Today, I will let go. I will stop trying to control everything. I will stop trying to make myself be and do better, and I will let myself be. 
This is a tall order for today as it was for yesterday as well. I'm not liking to much what I'm having to let go. I feel like I am still in shock over it all. Yes I want to put my hands in there and try control it,but that just will make things a lot worse. and wont fix things.I know that once it really sinks it's gonna hit me harder than it has. 
I also need to remember this isn't about me even though it sure feels personal. 
All I know is that I still can't believe that this is happening,and I am saddened by this. I keep wishing this was a bad dream :( ,but it's not, and I need to accept it,and move through the process. .
It says above that how life is unfolding is good so let it unfold, I don't see the good in this now,just as I never have during sad times or difficult times. This situation is gonna be what it's gonna be regardless of how I decide to go through it. I am powerless over others, all I can do is control how I deal with this. Right now I'm still in shock, and having a rough time accepting what is going on. I need to really spend more time with God.
He Can
I can't
So I will let Him.
   

Today's Gift

In summer I am very glad
We children are so small,
For we can see a thousand things
That men can't see at all.
  —Laurence Alma-Tadema

Out behind the house a little boy is turning over stepping-stones, which form the sidewalk. Underneath these stones he has discovered many different kinds of worms and bugs. They wiggle this way and that when their cover is removed. He is only four, but he is the only one in the family who has made this discovery.

In a child's eyes there are many wonderful things, which escape the attention of the adult world. In order to see them, we must often take the time to let those younger than us show the way. Even though we may have lost our own childlike view of the world, others can guide us and thereby enrich our lives. We have much to teach and share with each other, regardless of our ages.

What can I learn from one younger than me today?