The best things in life are appreciated most after they have been lost. --Roy L. Smith
Humankind has made such great technological progress, developing marvelous tools and instruments to make our life easier, that it is hard to imagine the struggles our ancestors endured. We are so used to these protective and labor-saving devices that we take them for granted. We fail to appreciate them.
So it is with our loved ones, our fellow workers, our friends, and acquaintances. We are so used to the help, the cooperation, the moral support, and the love we get from them that we may take them for granted. And then we wonder why our relationships don't always go smoothly. What if we were to show them a little appreciation? What if we were to ask God to bless them?
Today I will give thanks to my Higher Power for the people around me and tell them, one by one, how much I appreciate them.
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
That'd be me. I realized not long after I had some sobriety time that I was pretty nasty to loved ones. My mom, for one, who is 78. I have lost so many years with her because of my selfishness and drinking. I love and appreciate my mom and am trying to do everything I can to let her know that. This was only possible after working the steps, getting rid of resentments, which kept me locked in a negative mindset that my mom had done "things" to mess up my life. I have made amends to her.
I no longer have any resentments at all whereas every single day I would go through this mental list of things not only she, but others "had done to me" to mess up my life.
I do have so much guilt for feeling the way I did and for wasting so many years with her and other family members when I could have been expressing my love and gratitude to them every single day.
Thank God for this program and I thank Him for blessings I have now which I never thought possible.
Great Post, Pappy!