I learned a lesson on this
acronym from my al-anon sponsor who is also a good friend and a writing mentor.
When faced with people who are acting or talking in an unreasonable way to us we
think JADE: We don't justify, argue, defend or explain we just exit.
J ustify
A rgue
D efend
E xplain/exit
That may mean hanging up the phone if we are being vented upon, it may
mean taking some time for yourself and our program, it may mean praying and
seeking a blessing for that person who is going through their own pain and hurt.
JADE is a new concept to me, but a good one.
I got some magnets with slogans or sayings on them at the gratitude dinner
Saturday.
"I'm never going to have it all figured out---and that is just fine."
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am leaning how to sail my ship."
"Perfection is a long way off, but improvement can be made to happen
everyday."
"It takes what it takes."
And the cutest one yet, "Don't mess with chicks in
recovery."
I'm
adding a devo that I wrote but hasn't been published yet:
The
Ways of the Lord Towards Us
For
the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and
his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm
100:5
Today
as I think about those who are grieving, those who are sick and in need of a
Healer, those who want to give up, those who are afraid their children will die
of an overdose on the streets, and those who are afraid their loved one will
just decide to end it all, I pray.
I
pray because that is really all I can do. I yield to Him, although sometimes I
want to try to fix someone; sometimes I may even want to shake someone. But I yield to the Lord, because letting go and
letting God is the only reasonable thing that I can do. It keeps me sane in an
insane world.
His
ways are good even when we can't see for the darkness. His ways are good even
when they aren’t our ways. His ways are good through the valley of the shadow of
death. His ways are good when we are lonely because He will come to us. His ways
are good when we are struggling because He can calm the struggle. His ways are
good when our children have abandoned or forsaken us (and Him) and gone astray
because He is the mighty shepherd who searches for the lost one. His ways are
good in pain as He is the healer. His ways are good when the road is long and
the journey seems too hard to travel for He travels with
us.
His
ways are good we will believe for this year. We can’t create, change or cure but
His ways are good and He can. Think on your blessings, as that is the only way
to overcome the darkness of this world. He is the light and His ways are good!
The goodness of the Lord lives forever.
Prayer:
The Serenity Prayer.
God
grant me the serenity
to
accept the things I cannot change;
courage
to change the things I can;
and
wisdom to know the difference.
Living
one day at a time;
Enjoying
one moment at a time;
Accepting
hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking,
as He did, this sinful world
as
it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting
that He will make all things right
if
I surrender to His Will;
That
I may be reasonably happy in this life
and
supremely happy with Him
Forever
in the next.
Amen.--Reinhold
Niebuhr
What to do for
yourself: Focus on your
blessings as you take long, deep, cleansing breaths. When stressed throughout
the day remember to breathe deeply.
Thought:
Sometimes we just need to say a prayer to get our minds in a better place. Focus
on the Lord’s goodness in your life even as addiction has flavored it. The Lord
is good even when _____________ because_________.
