“The Big Book says that if you’ve forgotten your last binge, you haven’t had it yet.” Anonymous
I rationalized that I had collected them, so I was going to enjoy them. The problem was, eating so many treats in one evening made all the flavors meld, like putting six different salad dressings on your salad at the same time. As a result, nothing stood out as special…nothing even tasted good. Looking back it reminds me of the misnomer: if a little salt tastes good, then a lot of salt will make it taste better. Wrong! I hope I never forget how unsatisfying it was to eat so many sweet and savory treats and enjoy nothing. The more I ate the worse it got. But I continued to eat until all the gourmet items were gone and I was way beyond full. Are you buying-in to the misnomer that the more you indulge the more fun you’ll have? Do you have a memory you can resurrect of a past binge that reminds you why you don’t want to go there again? What will you do differently today to ensure you don’t have to add a new binge to your list of unpleasant memories? Lord, may I never forget how miserable I was having eaten so much food with no pleasure in return. Amen “Do not be deceived:…for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians 6:7 BUT, ALSO “Do not fear for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you for I am your God; I will strengthen you, surely help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 PS For those struggling with addiction, there are over 30 12-step programs (see below). However, for more immediate help, pray – don’t just recite, pray – the Serenity Prayer. It has always worked for me. God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference. Amen A Partial List of 12-Step Groups
For a full list of 12-step programs and support groups patterned after 12-step principles, refer to the Wikipedia article: List of Twelve-Step Groups.
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“Whenever you’re giving, it’s like a gift to yourself.” Sanaa Lathan
At the end of the event the organizers asked if he would do it again next year. He agreed and I was right behind him with an eager “Yes!” There is nothing so rewarding as making a child forget their unfortunate circumstances and smile, at a time when so many other children are reveling in family time, surrounded by relatives. It was more like receiving a blessing ourselves. Is there a gift of yourself that you can give? Is there a local ministry or agency that could use a volunteer? Who – a stranger, a neighbor, a friend, or family member – could use an unexpected gift this holiday? “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Sanaa McCoy Lathan (1971- ), an American actress and voice actress who has amassed numerous credits in theater (A Raisin In the Sun), films (The Best Man, Love and Basketball), and television (The Cleveland Show, NYPD Blue). Since 2001 Lathan has won seven out of twenty nominations for Best Actress, including two Black Reel Awards and two NAACP Image Awards. “Hope is something you can work at. You can put it on the menu, you can dish it out, you can consume it whole.” Sean CummingsSean Cummings was diagnosed with chronic COPD, likely contracted innocently inhaling powdered cement when he was a tile setter in his youth. So when I had a back injury as a result of a rear-end car accident, I knew I needed to engage Hope to replace the emotions I was struggling with. Sean’s example of learning to live with COPD (Breath of Life, Guideposts, November 2018) by adjusting his lifestyle, challenged me to learn to make the necessary adjustments to live with a bad back until I fully recover, or possibly for the rest of my life, as happens with many people injured later in life. Are you fighting circumstances that just happened to you? Do you find yourself defending your position as the innocent victim? How will you engage Hope in your life today? Lord, thank You for the Hope that one day all pain will be gone and all tears dried when we spend eternity in the next life. Amen “…we exult in our trials knowing that trials bring about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint…” Romans 5:3 to 5
“Some people won’t love you, no matter what you do. Some people won’t stop loving you, no matter what. Go where the love is.” Eleanor Brown
I still had to work with her but I chose not to socialize with her. I suppose she interpreted it as being stuck-up or self-righteous, but it was more important for me to take care of myself and remain neutral toward her. Being new in town and knowing few people, testing the waters as I tried to make new friends was my way of being careful to befriend only people that were encouraging, friendly, and kind. We enjoyed our time together that day. Although, I didn’t regret the self-protection choices I took twenty years earlier, I may always wonder if we could have been friends sooner if I had not been so ‘neutral’ and avoided her. I discovered sometimes rather than look for Love, in order to "go where the lover is" I need to be the one to take Love with me. “Where Love Is, There God Is” Leo Tolstoy Are you in a situation where you are enduring rather than flourishing? Are you able to be kind even when others are not kind to you? What will you do this holiday season to “go where the love is” by taking Love with you? Lord, help me get better at being a peace-maker and loving others who are not necessarily friendly toward me. Amen “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Eleanor Brown (1973- ), novelist, anthologist, editor, teacher, and motivational speaker. She is the New Your Times and international bestselling author of novels The Weird Sisters and The Lights of Paris.
“Four saying that lead to wisdom: 1) ‘I was wrong,’ 2) ‘I’m sorry,’ 3) ‘I don’t know,’ and 4) ‘I need help.’” Louise PennyGetting out of my car I noticed a woman running up to me, yelling. I reacted to her screaming thinking: Is she some kind of a nut? But then I listened. She was livid that I had cruised through the parking lot about twenty-five miles an hour.
I walked up to the open door and said, “I’m the one. I sped through the parking lot.” I went on to try to explain that I would never intentionally put kids at risk. I apologized, multiple times, before we finished talking. Later the school secretary approached me and thanked me for the way I handled it. I felt I had apologized, so I had done all I could do, all I was responsible to do…but I still felt badly. Later, thinking it through for the hundredth time, it occurred to me: I said I would never do anything to put children at risk….but I had done just that. She was right in her assessment.
Have you ever been annoyed when someone points out something you did that was uncharacteristic of you, but still the wrong thing to have done? Did you ever apologize and still not feel relieved of the guilt? If given a do-over, how would you have handled it?...or how will you handle it next time? Lord, thank You for the message that got me back on track – keeping kids’ safety paramount – even though the reminder came to me through a screaming mother and a guilt-trip. I’m grateful You got my attention before I actually injured an innocent child. Amen “For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” II Corinthians 8:21
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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