"What we do is just a drop of water in the ocean, but remember, the ocean could have been deprived of that little drop of water." Mother Teresa
Addiction and recovery are spoken of as a journey. But, our very lives, even if addiction weren't a part of them are also a journey. We learn through travel. Traveling requires movement or action. We can travel like a lame duck and go in a circle. This is where it's important to accept and be aware that old ways of doing business are taking us to the same destination....nowhere.
We can travel to new places trying out new things, to see what brings us growth, joy or peace. One of the most profound lessons that the disease of addiction has taught me is in the appreciation for the little things. I used to avoid changing because I thought that it meant there needed to be this huge change. I didn't do things differently because I couldn't appreciate or probably understand the difference that just one little thing makes.
Mother Teresa is said to have met a very wealthy woman in India who wanted to contribute to the Missionaries of Charity work. She wanted to make a large demonstrative gift to the Home for the Dying. Mother Teresa asked her not to do that but instead to buy less expensive saris and the money that she saved she would appreciate very much as a donation. This act taught her to live daily small acts of charity.
I've always loved the idea of this but have been unsure of how to go about doing it. I think that God has been trying to send me a tool kit lately and I am so grateful. It started out with my best friend, the mom to 8 children, 5 of which are adopted. We usually talk daily in our effort to solve the worlds problems. She has often mentioned reactive attachment disorder with regard to some of her kids from hard places. She went to a conference this weekend about attachment needs and tools for healing attachment issues. Then when hubby and I started counseling our therapy is attachment based. Then I read a blogging buddy's post about a book on addiction where attachment issues are studied as a root cause of addiction. I liked that so much that I looked up the authors other works and he had a book on ADD and attachment.
I don't think this is a coincidence. Attachment can be healed with many small acts over time that give safety and security to our loved ones. Eye contact, listening with both your ears and your heart and so many other little things heal. I am so excited that I read a chapter for about 3 or 4 different books each day.
Today I am thankful for all of those messengers pointing me in the direction that I need to take. I pray for the understanding necessary to use this new information. I pray that we all learn the value of the small acts of love. And I say a prayer for Henry.
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Addiction and recovery are spoken of as a journey. But, our very lives, even if addiction weren't a part of them are also a journey. We learn through travel. Traveling requires movement or action. We can travel like a lame duck and go in a circle. This is where it's important to accept and be aware that old ways of doing business are taking us to the same destination....nowhere.
We can travel to new places trying out new things, to see what brings us growth, joy or peace. One of the most profound lessons that the disease of addiction has taught me is in the appreciation for the little things. I used to avoid changing because I thought that it meant there needed to be this huge change. I didn't do things differently because I couldn't appreciate or probably understand the difference that just one little thing makes.
Mother Teresa is said to have met a very wealthy woman in India who wanted to contribute to the Missionaries of Charity work. She wanted to make a large demonstrative gift to the Home for the Dying. Mother Teresa asked her not to do that but instead to buy less expensive saris and the money that she saved she would appreciate very much as a donation. This act taught her to live daily small acts of charity.
I've always loved the idea of this but have been unsure of how to go about doing it. I think that God has been trying to send me a tool kit lately and I am so grateful. It started out with my best friend, the mom to 8 children, 5 of which are adopted. We usually talk daily in our effort to solve the worlds problems. She has often mentioned reactive attachment disorder with regard to some of her kids from hard places. She went to a conference this weekend about attachment needs and tools for healing attachment issues. Then when hubby and I started counseling our therapy is attachment based. Then I read a blogging buddy's post about a book on addiction where attachment issues are studied as a root cause of addiction. I liked that so much that I looked up the authors other works and he had a book on ADD and attachment.
I don't think this is a coincidence. Attachment can be healed with many small acts over time that give safety and security to our loved ones. Eye contact, listening with both your ears and your heart and so many other little things heal. I am so excited that I read a chapter for about 3 or 4 different books each day.
Today I am thankful for all of those messengers pointing me in the direction that I need to take. I pray for the understanding necessary to use this new information. I pray that we all learn the value of the small acts of love. And I say a prayer for Henry.
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." Ralph Waldo Emerson
2 comments:
I'd like to know more about the book on addiction where attachment issues are studied as a root cause of addiction. What book is this?
Thanks! =)
Inspiring! This is so similar to the journey I was on until I found a place where I felt I could really give back. God gave me some detours to teach me lessons.
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