MAY 3 in The Little Blue Book ONE DAY at a TIME in AL-ANON:
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MAY 3 in The Little Blue Book ONE DAY at a TIME in AL-ANON:
MAY 3 in The Little Blue Book ONE DAY at a TIME in AL-ANON:
This is a story of a man who has dedicated his life to helping the families of alcoholics.
On one occasion, he was invited to address an important Al-Anon meeting in a place about seven hundred miles from his home. Shortly before the event, he lost his beloved wife.
Those who had asked him to appear thought he would certainly not wish to keep his speaking engagement, but he did.
To one of the members who had expressed his sympathy, he said: "Let me tell you a story of an Englishwoman at the time of the Blitz in the Second World War. Her husband had met sudden death, and her minister went to break the news to her. When she greeted him, she asked: "Are you bringing me bad news that you come at this unusual time of day?" "I'm afraid so," the minister answered. "Is it about my husband? Is he dead" "Yes, I am sorry to bring you such sad tidings..." She interrupted him to say: "Come in and let me make you a cup of tea." At his astonished look, she explained, "My mother taught me, when I was a little girl, that when anything very dreadful happens, I must think of what I would be doing if it had not happened, and then do that."He gave a moving and inspiring talk to the assembled Al-Anons. Everyone marveled at his ability to rise above his personal sorrow, but few realized he had distilled that sorrow into inspiration for us.
In a sense, everything that happens to me is a gift from God. I may resent disappointments, rebel against a series of misfortunes which I regards as unmerited punishment. Yet in time, I may come to understand that these can be considered gifts of enlightenment. They teach me that many of my punishments are self-inflicted. In some way unfathomable to my human intelligence, my suffering could be the consequence of my own attitudes, actions or neglects.
This spiritual approach to my problem can lift my thinking to a level at which I can gain new perspectives and find solutions I never dreamed were possible.
Today's Reminder
All of us tend to rebel against the unhappiness in our lives; we try to understand; we resent what we cannot understand. Rebelliousness will only heap one frustration on another until we learn to get out from under, let go, and let God take a hand in our affairs.
"When a man of good-will is troubled or tempted or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he can better understand how great a need he has of faith in God." (Thomas A'Kempis)
This is a story of a man who has dedicated his life to helping the families of alcoholics.
On one occasion, he was invited to address an important Al-Anon meeting in a place about seven hundred miles from his home. Shortly before the event, he lost his beloved wife.
Those who had asked him to appear thought he would certainly not wish to keep his speaking engagement, but he did.
To one of the members who had expressed his sympathy, he said: "Let me tell you a story of an Englishwoman at the time of the Blitz in the Second World War. Her husband had met sudden death, and her minister went to break the news to her. When she greeted him, she asked: "Are you bringing me bad news that you come at this unusual time of day?" "I'm afraid so," the minister answered. "Is it about my husband? Is he dead" "Yes, I am sorry to bring you such sad tidings..." She interrupted him to say: "Come in and let me make you a cup of tea." At his astonished look, she explained, "My mother taught me, when I was a little girl, that when anything very dreadful happens, I must think of what I would be doing if it had not happened, and then do that."He gave a moving and inspiring talk to the assembled Al-Anons. Everyone marveled at his ability to rise above his personal sorrow, but few realized he had distilled that sorrow into inspiration for us.
In a sense, everything that happens to me is a gift from God. I may resent disappointments, rebel against a series of misfortunes which I regards as unmerited punishment. Yet in time, I may come to understand that these can be considered gifts of enlightenment. They teach me that many of my punishments are self-inflicted. In some way unfathomable to my human intelligence, my suffering could be the consequence of my own attitudes, actions or neglects.
This spiritual approach to my problem can lift my thinking to a level at which I can gain new perspectives and find solutions I never dreamed were possible.
Today's Reminder
All of us tend to rebel against the unhappiness in our lives; we try to understand; we resent what we cannot understand. Rebelliousness will only heap one frustration on another until we learn to get out from under, let go, and let God take a hand in our affairs.
"When a man of good-will is troubled or tempted or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he can better understand how great a need he has of faith in God." (Thomas A'Kempis)
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