Daily Readings for Saturday, April 11th

Meditation for the Day

I must learn to accept self-discipline. I must try never to yield one point that I have already won. I must not let myself go in resentments, hates, fears, pride, lust, or gossip. Even if the discipline keeps me separated from some people who are without discipline, nevertheless I will carry on. I may have different ways and a different standard of living than some others. I may be actuated by different motives than some people. But I will try to live the way I believe God wants me to live, no matter what others say.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be an example to others of a better way of living. I pray that I may carry on in spite of hindrances.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day 

Financial Goals

Taking responsibility for our financial affairs will improve our self-esteem and lessen anxiety.

Each of us, today, has a present set of financial circumstances. We have a certain amount of money in hand, and money due to us. We have a pile of bills that we owe. We have taxes to pay. Those are our present financial circumstances. No matter what the details are, acceptance, gratitude, and self-responsibility will lessen the stress.

Each of us, today, has a financial future. There are few future aspects of our life we can control, but one part we can play to assist our future is setting goals.

We don’t have to obsess about our goals. We don’t have to constantly watch and mark our progress toward them. But it is beneficial to think about our goals and write them down. What do we want to happen in our financial future? What financial problems would we like to solve? What bills would we like to be rid of? What would we like to be earning at the end of this year? The end of next year? Five years from now?

Are we willing to work for our goals and trust our Higher Power to guide us?

Pay bills on time. Contact creditors. Make arrangements. Do your best, today, to take responsibility for your finances. Set goals for the future. Then, let go of money and concentrate on loving. Taking responsibility for our financial affairs does not mean making money our focus. Taking responsibility for our finances enables us to take our focus off money. It frees us to do our work and live the life we want.

We deserve to have the self-esteem and peace that accompanies financial responsibility.

Today, I will take the time necessary to be responsible for myself financially. If it is time to pay bills or talk to creditors, I will do that. If it is time to set goals, I will do that. Once I have done my part, I will let the rest go.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie 

Daily Readings for Friday, April 10th

Meditation for the Day

Pride stands sentinel at the door of the heart and shuts out the love of God. God can only dwell with the humble and the obedient. Obedience to God’s will is the key unlocking the door to God’s kingdom. You cannot obey God to the best of your ability without in time realizing God’s love and responding to that love. The rough stone steps of obedience lead up to where the mosaic floor of love and joy is laid. Where God’s spirit is, there is your home. There is heaven for you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that God may make His home in my humble and obedient heart. I pray that I may obey his guidance to the best of my ability.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day 

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Using Others to Stop Our Pain

Our happiness is not a present someone else holds in his or her hands. Our well-being is not held by another to be given or withheld at whim. If we reach out and try to force someone to give us what we believe he or she holds, we will be disappointed. We will discover that it is an illusion. The person didn’t hold it. He or she never shall. That beautifully wrapped box with the ribbon on it that we believed contained our happiness that someone was holding – it’s an illusion!

In those moments when we are trying to reach out and force someone to stop our pain and create our joy, if we can find the courage to stop flailing about and instead stand still and deal with our issues, we will find our happiness.

Yes, it is true that if someone steps on our foot, he or she is hurting us and therefore holds the power to stop our pain by removing his or her foot. But the pain is still ours. And so is the responsibility to tell someone to stop stepping on our feet.

Healing will come when we’re aware of how we attempt to use others to stop our pain and create our happiness. We will heal from the past. We will receive insights that can change the course of our relationships.

We will see that, all along, our happiness and our well-being have been in our hands. We have held that box. The contents are ours for the opening.

God, help me remember that I hold the key to my own happiness. Give me the courage to stand still and deal with my own feelings. Give me the insights I need to improve my relationships. Help me stop doing the codependent dance and start doing the dance of recovery.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie 

Another Week Almost Done….

Another week in the surreal world of the unseen enemy is nearly done. It’s been just over three weeks of quarantine due to the coronavirus. I’ve learned just when you think things can’t get any more complicated, any more surreal, they most often do.

The new routine of life is definitely an adjustment. Getting used to a new routine isn’t always easy. Learning to work from home, teaching classes online isn’t always the easiest maze to navigate. But navigate it I did, one day a a time. Far from perfect, but I’m hoping I did an adequate job of doing what I needed to do.

From a personal standpoint, the road has also not been easy. I always considered myself to be a homebody, but not quite to the extent that I’ve had to these past three weeks. I’ve been cooking all my meals and planning around what I’ll eat during the coming weeks. I’ve made several trips to the store, but realize those trips put me at additional risk and I need to consider the consequences.

My mind has gone here and there. Many times I woke up in the morning and it takes the first minute for all the realities of the world we’re living in to settle in once more. And then there’s the fear and dread as I consider all the implications of the battle we’re all facing. I try to steady my thought and let those negative feelings pass as they will. Sometimes it takes longer than others, but I realize that it’s all a part of my mental framework each day.

My mind consider how much longer all this lifestyle will last. The school year is almost certainly a wash, although I’ll have to still guide students and grade their work once its finished. My own children are facing personal battles of their own during this crisis and although I realize there’s a limit to what I’m able to do, I want them to always know I’m there for support. Things may get more difficult in some respects before they get any better.

So that’s my life these days. I normally would write this as my last journal entry of the evening, but I decided to share it here tonight. Perhaps I’m able to provide some insight for others as they continue to trudge the surreal world of the unseen enemy.

David Lee