My week has been good, bad, and hectic. It has been good because fundamentally, life is good. My kids have been off school since Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is good because we have been able to spend quality time as a family together…bad because they are kids and therefore, get on my nerves after awhile!
I caught an upper respiratory infection on Wednesday, which was bad. I am finally starting to feel well again, which is good. I missed my home group meeting this week because my daughter got sick, which was bad. I chaired a closed women’s meeting at a treatment facility this week. That was good.
I have chaired or spoke at this meeting several times over the last few years. Since Thanksgiving was this week, I was surprised at how many inpatients were there. I left there feeling very grateful…grateful because I got to leave and spend the holiday with my family instead of staying there under lock and key…and grateful because I went there to share a solution while they were there due to living in the problem.
I spent Thanksgiving Day visiting extended family members, which is sometimes very stressful, sometimes a little stressful, and always hectic. On a scale of 0-10 with 10 being extremely stressful and 0 being stress-free, I rate Thursday’s visit as a 4...not too bad!
Yesterday’s activities consisted of an early morning follow-up visit with the doctor, taking care of the kids while hubby worked all day, then dinner and movie that night with the kiddos, which was hectic. Today we visited family again (Yikes, twice in one week!) It was another 4 on the stress scale - not bad!
I am looking forward to getting back into our routine next week, which means things will not be as hectic…hopefully. I am ready to sloooooowwww down.
This Thanksgiving week, I am most grateful for the fact that whether my days were good, bad, or hectic mattered little to my level of serenity. The only variable that truly affects my serenity is my conscious contact with my Higher Power.
Thankfully, I took several moments each day to rest in the peace and stillness of His presence. It is the most beautiful place I have ever been. I pray for this for you and that I am able to continue to experience the power of Step 11 all the days of my life.
Thank you for reading and for sharing your experience, strength, and hope with me!
Sounds like a lot to be grateful for! A lot of great service and family relationship!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see ya with good, bad and hectic... but best to see the increasing amount of good even in what we believed was bad and hectic! ~;O)
Great post. Can’t wait to read the next ones :)
ReplyDeleteI had some special moments with my daughter on vacation last week, but was glad school started back up this week and we could get back to our regular routine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of Step 11. I am always reminded when I visit your blog.
I never get tired of "Be still and know that I am God". I read a book by Beth Moore "Feathers from my Nest" and in she talks about how their can be calm in the middle of chaos as long as the foundation in strong. I used to think that I could only attain peace in quiet surroundings, but AA has given me the inner peace of God, and that is always still even if life is like a hurricane! Hope you are all better from your sickness....
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful thing when we can have serenity even in the hectic times...what a blessing...hope things are slowing down for you now Marie. :-)
ReplyDeleteSimple and sweet. I’m thinking of starting another blog or five pretty soon, and I’ll definitely consider this theme. Keep ‘em coming!.
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