Lent Day 12

I can't believe I've missed, not one, but two days of my lent blog entries.  Nevertheless my abstinence is still strong and feel a strong focus on God.  Yesterday when I weighed myself lost 4.5 lbs, towards my target weight.  Not that I'm doing this to lose weight, but it shows that God continues to work miracles in my life as part of this process.  He continues to show that I can trust in Him and that my faith in Him is well placed.

Today's Positive Action:  If you meet the qualifications, donate blood.  The concept that when somebody has been seriously injured, like in a drunk driving accident, they can take blood from my arm to help save that person, is truly one of God's miracles.  Be part of the miracle.  There is almost always a shortage blood supplies so please give generously.

Today's Focus: Smoking sucks.  We all know it kills and so it's no surprise that it creates anxiety for the people close smokers.  I was talking to one woman who's husband has been "sober" from smoking for a month and a half.  Since then, not only is he feeling better and healthier, but their relationship is much better, too.  She attributes at least part of it to the way she used to respond to him coming home smelling of smoke and tobacco.  She would always tell him what he knew - how bad it was and that he needed to quit.  This was always an emotional discussion that rarely went well.  It would serve to create more tension in other areas of their lives as well.  So, that has all stopped and they are experiencing the benefit of it.  This scenario is likely true for most addictions - so it's merely one example of how addictions, and the consequent recovery and sobriety, impact our relationships.

Thankfully it's Sunday, again, so it's time for The 11th Step Prayer, also known as the prayer of St. Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
   Where there is hatred, that I may bring love.
   Where there is wrong, that I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.
   Where there is discord, that I may bring harmony.
   Where there is error, that I may bring truth.
   Where there is doubt, that I may bring faith.
   Where there is darkness, that I may bring light.
   Where there is sadness, that I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
   To understand than to be understood;
   To love than to be loved;
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
   It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
   It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
AMEN.

Thanks for letting me share.