Today is Sunday, the one day of the week when generally we all have the opportunity to slow down. We spend time with family, friends and on ourselves. Yes some of us use the day for getting the house in order but it’s a choice. I often choose this day as one for reflection, to plug back in by attending church, reading and lazily hanging with hubby and the kids.
Tomorrow most of the world faces getting up, performing the hurried weekday morning routine. There will be demands made upon those people, co-workers to chat with, appointments to make and the requirements of the outside world to be met.
Many folks live Monday through Friday in order to be able to enjoy the weekend. For us this was always the case, with hubby always working opposites shifts to myself we would wring out every happy moment from the weekend together and through the week we would wait for this occurrence to happen again.
These days I’m not heading out to an office, but still the weekdays are distinctly different from the weekends because with Saturday and Sunday there is a pre-programmed freedom within me. I know that I can spend time with hubby on those days and for me that is a gift.
What has changed is how I view Monday to Friday.
I don’t do the internal count-down to Friday night drinking anymore….but it’s more than that.
My perspective has shifted, each day is a gift. This hasn’t only been caused by facing the fragility of life with the car accident and my sobriety; it’s come with my Relationship with God.
I now realize that God has chosen each and every one of us to be here on this earth. He has a purpose for each of us in EVERY day we are breathing.
It’s taken a bloody long time for me to get that, days where the despair, pain and anxiety of my life were threatening to overwhelm me. On these days God would appear to me. No, not in a vision nor in a fantastic James Earl Jones voice sort of way….but through the people or environment around me.
Immediately after the accident I was in horrible pain, unable to think clearly, incapable of being the mother or wife I expected myself to be. Anxiety and pain were always with me, maintaining even a semblance of “normal” living was truly a humongous effort.
Prayer was beyond my addled brain, all I could say to God was “please take my will and use me as you want.” That was it; that was my entire dialogue with Him.
During those weeks when driving was impossible and leaving my home felt like facing my worst fears God sent me people who strengthened me. Friends arrived uninvited to bring me to 12 Step meetings. They listened patiently to my reasons why I couldn’t possibly attend and then these near strangers found a way to get me in the car and through the doors.
When I ask them now why they bothered to do that for me, someone they hardly knew the response is always the same.
They told me that God (or their Higher Power) led them to; that our 12 Step program tells us the following:
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
Today I am able to understand it; I find I’m often pulled by God to do things I wouldn’t even have noticed needed my attention in the past. God is using me in ways I may not have noticed if I weren’t paying attention.
It took change; changing my perspective, my focus and my goal.
My goal isn’t just getting through the week or the day.
Now it to be aware of what can I do for God today.
Simply by being plugged into God, being mindful of His lessons has naturally changed me and in my slow, quiet life I’m given opportunities to realize my purpose.
As you face Monday tomorrow can you say that you’re plugged into a purpose that is larger than simply getting through the day?
Would you like to be?
When we’re determined to be humble, to remove our egos from situations we will be amazed at the change in our lives. God knows exactly who we are and exactly what is possible in each and every ordinary day. He will use us to plant seeds all around us if we give Him the opportunity.
God doesn’t need me to find huge, flashy good works; I don’t need to be anything other than willing. I have been washed clean, now all that is required is to trust God.
Titus 3:3-8
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
" he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."Whew!! Thank goodness huh!! If we were saved based on our worthiness,, well,, you know! Thank God for His Mercy!Loved todays ramble!!~d
I am slowly learning that letting people help satisfies them just as much me…and I am learning that by helping people more and more. I love how He tries to humble my heart…..now if only I could let Him as much as He would like to!Great Bible verse, and great post!
Nice post and so true! I need to remember this next week when I am working Mon-Fri 9:30 am til 8 pm.Can you enable pop up window commenting???Blogger won't let me comment.www.crazyintx-kristi.blogspot.com
Amen Dawn and Robin!!!Kristi, I don't know what you mean, I have it set so anyone can comment, you just have to login.
Oh look I found the pop up window!
I find myself toying with a larger purpose – but working to get there.
you sound beautifully sober today, thank God :-)I love being reminded of the miracle of recovery!
Amen!
I once asked someone very dear that helped me when I was getting sober…Why are you helping me so much? "we get to keep it by giving it away". I've never forgotten those words ~years later and lots of life happenings I've learned that 'helping others' takes on many faces and that also extends to family. I'm stopping by from Word of Mouth…
These days I stay away from focusing on the long term purpose, that will be revealed in time. I focus upon what my purpose is today, in the moment. I try to be aware of small opportunities to help others.