Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Feb. 21, 2018 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018
Today’s thought from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

In this world everything changes except good deeds and bad deeds; these follow you as the shadows follow the body.
 — Ruth Benedict

Our identity, our being at any moment, is a composite of all we have been in the past. Some of our actions have made us wiser. Others haunt us because we didn’t put forth our best effort. All of our deeds contributed in some measure to our growth, however, and they can guide our choice to behave honorably today.

Acceptance, of who we are, our total self, is necessary for our emotional maturity. Shame for past actions will keep us stuck. Our restitution for the past is best made by responsible behavior today. How fortunate that each waking moment offers us opportunities to become our better selves.

Today, just like every day, I’ll make choices to behave in ways that will fill me with pride or shame. I pray for thoughtfulness today.

You are reading from the book:

The Promise of a New Day by Karen Casey & Martha Vanceburg. © 1983, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation

No comments:

Post a Comment