Today's Gift for Families - May 2014

[MajestyJo]

Sunday, May 18, 2014

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.
—Thomas Fuller

We have all seen adventure movies in which the heroes or villains are caught on a bridge that collapses. As they fall to whatever lies below, they are perhaps able to climb to one side or the other. But for the time being, their ability to cross between the two sides is gone.

When we have been hurt by people in our lives, or when we have hurt others, mutual forgiveness is needed in order to rebuild the trust between us. It is very much like rebuilding a bridge - one piece at a time. We take cautious steps at first - testing the safety and strength of our bridge.

When two people have become separated by loss or anger, it is forgiveness that can rebuild the bridge between them. Forgiveness needs time and so does the rebuilding of trust.

Can I begin to rebuild a friendship today?

This reminded me of the question, "How do you start a new meeting?"
With a resentment and a coffee pot!

For me it is about seeing where they are going and what direction they are taking. I have a couple of friends who are heavy smokers and I just can't go into their home. When they came to me, they would smoke on my balcony, but they would bring the smoke back in with them.

I can pick up the phone and call, but I can't jeopardize my sobriety. If I picked up a cigarette, I would die faster than if I picked up a drink or another drug. First things first, my sobriety. Hopefully the lung specialist will have some answers for me on the 28th. It is one of the reasons that I can't always go to a meeting, I can't get through all the smoke without having chronic pain and major coughing fits.

The forgiveness is there although I do have to admit, that I have problems with people, who keep doing and saying the same things over and over again, and have not made the steps to change and help themselves. I can't do it for them. All I can do is pray.