Sunday, September 15, 2013

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

All Natural

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Hi Tasha, ...

I sympathize with your preparing to move for I am in the middle of doing just that ... ... ... as for the overall message you have above, the first thing that came to my mind is the issue of forgiveness ... I think you've already addressed this and have come to terms with it ... I also remember the part of the book, 'The Shack', where Max had to come to terms with forgiving not only his daughters' molester and killer, but also the situation he had with his dad (who had beat him severely all in the name of God ... when he, the dad, was drunk) ... ... ...

I have some personal experience in the area of being molested AND have knowledge of my sister being molested(raped) at the age of 5 or 6, by our neighbor who was older than me ... and in the area of forgiveness, it's been a hard lesson to learn ... to forgive is not easy ... so if you haven't packed your copy of 'The Shack', please reread the last half of the book ... this helped me in more ways than I can ever properly express ... and I know it will help you as well ... ... ...

This journey we are all living is going to have some pain AND joy ... but please don't wait till you're my age before you figure out how to lessen the pain and increase the joy part ... and I truly think you've managed to do that for the most part ... and I am so proud that you trusted us enough to share your journey with us, it means so much (to me anyway) ... ... ... I pray that all this stuff you're going through does not put any division between you and your husband ...

As you said above "Sobriety makes it all possible, and God's love is everywhere, in everything no matter where I go." ... it is the same for me too ...

Love you and God Bless,
Pappy

P.S. You have my number, call me and we can share 'horror moving stories' ... LOL ... I just finished refinishing a stairway with 'hard wood' steps last week ... sanding and sanding and sanding, then staining them, then lacquer coating them twice ... all fourteen steps ... my last lacquer coat was only 15 minute old when for some unexplained reason, Rose, who never lets me out of her sight, decided she needed to go downstair by herself ... Oh My God ... ... ... it was all I could do to not 'shoot' her ... I thought I'd explode with raging anger ... (if you have any idea what it was going to take to REDO all that work)(then you'd understand my situation) ...

I WILL have to concede, the thought of having a drink came quickly, no, the thought of getting DRUNK came quickly ... all that damn work and now it had to be done over ... and time is not on my side here, as far as moving is concerned ... I came to the board here, AND smoked a lot, but I did not drink ... I haven't had that kind of desire to drink in over 5 years ... I'm sorry folks, I'm rambling ... just stick with our program and we'll all be okay ... thanks guys ....

-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Saturday 14th of September 2013 09:48:09 PM

Mr_David · MIP Old Timer

I can't even imagine what you're going through, not to mention your daughter. It's a pain we all share. What's so hard to comprehend is why someone would even consider such a horrible act, even for someone of my era. But I guess it's just a sign of the times.

I don't know what is worse, the pain your daughter is going through or the trails we all suffer from. It seems like the world has lost its sympathy or maybe worse; its humanity. I guess it's hard for some people to understand; the pain we all endure especially the victim. My only hope: Your daughter gets the helps she desperately needs.

Oh, one last thing: God can turn even the most heart wrenching of situations into something truly amazing. So hang in there as best you can. The comfort will eventually come.

Prayers coming your way.

-- Edited by Mr_David on Saturday 14th of September 2013 11:44:45 PM

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Sunday, September 15, 2013

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go

Getting Through Hard Times

We are sturdy beings. But in many ways, we are fragile. We can accept change and loss, but this comes at our own pace and in our own way. And only God and we can determine the timing.
Codependent No More

Hard times, stressful times, are not all there is to life, but they are part of life, growth, and moving forward.

What we do with hard times, or hard energy, is our choice.

We can use the energy of hard times to work out, and work through, our issues. We can use it to fine-tune our skills and our spirituality. Or we can go through these situations suffering, storing up bitterness, and refusing to grow or change.

Hard times can motivate and mold us to bring out our best. We can use these times to move forward and upward to higher levels of living, loving, and growth.

The choice is ours. Will we let ourselves feel? Will we take a spiritual approach, including gratitude, toward the event? Will we question life and our Higher Power by asking what we're supposed to be learning and doing? Or will we use the incident to prove old, negative beliefs? Will we say, "Nothing good ever happens to me... I'm just a victim... People can't be trusted... Life isn't worth living"?

We do not always require hard energy, or stress, to motivate us to grow and change. We do not have to create stress, seek it, or attract it. But if it's there, we can learn to channel it into growth and use it for achieving what's good in life.

God, let my hard times be healing times.

-- Edited by justadrunk on Sunday 15th of September 2013 07:31:42 AM

Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

((((Tasha))))...I empathize with powerlessness. I agree with all of your emotions and thoughts...we are normal in that or natural in that. What happened to your daugther violated the natural order of things as we say in my culture. Has it run the legal system...has a restraining order been put in place that insists that he move rather than you. I know about PTSD and one thing about it is that I cannot out run it even while I would drug or drink to make it stop or slow it down. I get stuck and have to remember to do my inventory on it...the what is my part real and imagined about it so that I can resent my responsibility honestly rather than the opposite fearfully dishonest or ragefully inappropriate. You are a loving, caring child of God woman and that is what is All Natural. You cannot run from that either. (((((hugs))))) smile

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Never stops amazing me

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Wow, what a great 'daily post' above ... AND 'timely' I might add ... ... ... thanks Tasha, seems we get the encouragement we need WHEN we need it ... love you so much ...

Pappy

Mike D · MIP Old Timer

Good morning Tasha! Your words have summed up everything I've come to know in recovery....and everything I never realized before recovery. I had to inflict my own suffering upon myself before I discovered that God's love really IS everywhere and all I ever had to do was open myself up to receive it. Thanks for turning my thoughts toward His life-giving Grace this morning. Blessings to you, Mike D.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Amen Mike ... ... ...