DEAR BROS & SIS IN RECOVERY 12/29/09, A TERRIFIC TUESDAY.....
BOUNDARIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
WE THINK ABOUT WORDS LIKE BOUNDARIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SOME SHIRK OR CRINGE WHEN THEY HEAR SUCH WORDS. RULES AND LAWS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR US BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE SAFETY FROM THE WORLD BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SAFETY FROM OURSELVES. THE 12 STEPS OF RECOVERY ALSO FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY.THEY KEEP US ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND KEEP US FROM PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES.
WHEN WE ARE GROWING UP, WE NEED STRUCTURE AND DISCIPLINE TO AVOID HAVING TO DEAL WITH LIFE WITHOUT ANY EXPERIENCE OR UNDERSTANDING. LIVING A LIFE OF RECKLESS ABONDON IS HOW MANY OF US GOT INTO THIS MESS. WE REBELLED AT AUTHORITY AND BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO. THE SONG " MY WAY " BY SINATRA COMES TO MIND. HIS WAY GAVE HIM FREEDOM BUT BROUGHT IMMEASURABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO HIS FAMILY.
NOW THAT WE ARE OLDER AND HOPEFULLY MORE MATURE, WE CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT BOUNDARIES ARE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD. THEY ARE NOT FOOL PROOF MEANING FOOLS WILL MISUSE OR ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY AND INFLICT PAIN ON OTHERS. THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE RULES BAD, ONLY THOSE HIDING BEHIND THEM.
IN RECOVERY, WE RECOGNIZE RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FAMILES AND TO OUR PROGRAM.
IT IS NOT A FREE RIDE. WE ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE BACK. OTHERWISE WE ARE NOT PUTTING STEP 12 INTO PRACTICE. WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT JOYFULLY, NOT WITH A LOUSY ATTITUDE. IN THIS WAY WE HELP OTHERS AND WE HELP US TO KEEP OUR SOBRIETY.
WHEN I AM ASKED TO HELP AT MY HOME GROUP, DO I MAKE EXCUSES BECAUSE I AM LAZY OR AFRAID? WHEN A NEIGHBOR ASKS FOR HELP, ARE WE TOO SELF CENTERED TO HELP AND DO WHAT WE CAN? I HAVE PRIVILIGES IN MY MEMBERSHIPS. DO I ALSO HELP WITH THE BURDENS OR SERVICE WORK? DO I PARTICIPATE IN GIVING TO MY CHURCH OR SYNOGOGUE WHEN THE CLERGY SHARES A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH REQUIRES, MONEY, FOOD OR CLOTHING?
WHEN GOD GAVE US THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ON MOUNT SANAI TO MOSES. HE DIDN'T DO IT TO SPOIL ALL OUR FUN. HE DID IT TO PROTECT US FROM THE WORLD AND OURSELVES. HE WAS NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN OR A TYRANT. DON'T WE GIVE RULES TO OUR KIDS. SO DOES GOD. WE HAVE OVER A MILLION AMERICANS IN JAILS AND PRISONS.THEY BROKE THE RULES. THE LAW TRIES TO PROTECT SOCIETY. THOSE THAT DON'T CHANGE THEIR WAYS BECOME WORSE FOR THE CORRECTION. IN RECOVERY, WE ARE ABOUT CHANGING OUR WAYS AND ASKING GOD TO REMOVE OUR CHARACTER DEFECTS WHICH CAUSE US US TO BREAK HIS RULES BRINGING PAIN AND MISERY TO US. WE WANT CHARACTER QUALITIES IN THEIR PLACE.
WE SEE THE LEVEL OF DISEASE THAT SPREADS BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLED SEXUAL ACTIVITY. WE SEE THE STRUGGLES OF SINGLE PARENTS BECAUSE THE FAMILY UNIT FALLS APART. WE SEE HOW THE CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED IN DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES BY ABUSE AND OR NEGLECT. I AM NOT CRITICIZING OR JUDGING ANYONE. WE ALL DO DUMB FROM TIME TO TIME.
NONE OF US ARE PERFECT. I AM AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR MISTAKES, FAILURES AND BREAKING RULES BUT GOD HAS HELPED ME TO CHANGE THESE MANY YEARS IN SOBRIETY.
I STILL HAVE A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO AND NO ONE ACHIEVES PERFECTION.ONLY JESUS IS PERFECT.
HARD WORK AND PRAYER ARE TWO FORCES THAT MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
CHANGE THE WORLD BY CHANGING YOURSELF. THIS IS THE FIRST PURPOSE OF PRAYER. IT BRINGS US BEFORE GOD WITH HUMILITY IN OUR HEARTS ASKING FOR HIS HELP. WHEN WE PRAY FOR OTHERS, IT TEACHES US COMPASSION.
OUR RECOVERY PROGRAM TELLS US THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. THAT IS A QUOTE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE BOOK OF JAMES. PRAYER IS THE POWER THAT MOVES THE HAND OF GOD. WORK LIKE IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU AND PRAY LIKE IT ALL DEPENDS ON GOD. SO YOU STRUGGLE WITH YOUR FAITH AND BELIEVING. SO DO I. LET HIM SHOW YOU HOW REAL HE IS, GOD THAT IS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE MEN'S OR WOMEN'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE, SEND ME A MESSAGE WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS.I WILL SEND IT TO YOU ASAP JUST FOR JOINING THE GROUP OR IF YOU ARE ALREADY A MEMBER.THERE IS NEVER ANY COST OR OBLIGATION TO YOU. WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU. OPEN THE PAGES OF GOD'S BIG BOOK AND READ THEM.
PRAY BEFORE YOU SPEAK AT A MEETING AND GOD'S ANNOINTING WILL BE WITH YOU AND YOUR SPEAKING WILL HAVE GREAT POWER, TOUCH LIVES AND CHANGE HEARTS.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HIM OR HER THAN CAN BELIEVE. WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, LET GOD USE YOU. NO ONE IS TOO SINFUL OR UNEDUCATED.
LET YOUR LIFE BE A STORY OF GOD'S MERCY AND LOVE. MINE CERTAINLY IS. I TRY TO KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN PRAYER AND WORK. IN IT AND SERVING OTHERS, I HAVE FOUND PEACE AND PURPOSE. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE NEEDS A TREATMENT PROGRAM IN A REHAB, CONTACT ME. I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AND YOU.
LUV & HUGS
PJ
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