I've been doing a lot of reading about learning to truly love. I firmly believe that the gift of love is as healing as anything that I can ever do for my son. I was reading some quotes from our Blessed Pope John Paul II on the subject of love. I thought that one quote was so appropriate for all of us who have dealt with or are dealing with addiction.
"The sickness of a family member, friend or neighbor is a call to Christians to demonstrate true compassion, that gentle and persevering sharing in another's pain. Likewise, the handicapped and those who are ill must never feel that they are a burden; they are persons being visited by the Lord."
Mother Teresa always lived and served the poorest of the poor by keeping the idea of serving the "least of these" as serving Jesus himself. When you imagine looking into the eyes of those suffering whether it be cancer or addiction and see someone so in need, and you imagine that you are peering into the eyes of Jesus, I think that your strength is renewed in the fact that loving those who are sometimes very difficult to love are a way for us to really give love. It is a challenge worth taking.
I am so blessed to be a part of this addiction/blogging community. I know that sounds strange but, you who have walked this path....GET IT. You know what is important. You have lived or are living in fear and you're still standing. I learn so much from you. I feel the depth of your humanness. I your strength and perseverance. And, I feel your unconditional love in your giving back.
Today, I am thankful for all of you. I am thankful for the lessons I learn from each of you on how to love, how to care for myself, how to be grateful, how to appreciate each day. I pray for our continued growth and the spread of that love for all of the "least of these." And, I pray for the soul of Henry.
2 comments:
And we are blessed to know you.
Hattie re your last post and the puppy. Excellent idea. Andrew was in a low security prison, and they rehabilitated dogs there. The prisoners had to meet a certain criteria to get a dog. They cared for that dog till it was ready to be adopted out. I was always so impressed when we visited, and the dogs were around. Of course, the ultimate winners were the prisoners, most of whom were chronic drug offenders.
see it here
I agree with Lou, that we are blessed to know you. I love reading your blog and always take away something valuable from it. Thanks so much. I also agree that our community of bloggers are such a blessing. It's what/who have kept me going through some dark days and beyond.
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