July 11

PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 11: “Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.” ― St. Frances de Sales

I only have a couple of saints that resonate with me. With my Catholic background, I felt beaten up by the saints and their holiness. St. Francis was kind of a screw up in his younger days, which resonates with me big time.

He also loved animals and all the statues of him show him with birds and animals. I like that. His prayer is in the BB and many people call it the 11^th Step prayer, which is not what it is; but that is not my business.

Anyway, I like this quote, because it is his nature, sweet and gentle (after he quit being a screw up), and we all need that at times. It never has been my default setting and probably never will be, but I have been blessed with people who are close to me and give me that when I need it.

Step 7 can create that in us, especially those of us who are more Type A in personality and driven to excel and have a tendency toward perfectionism. Ugh! Those are both shortcomings, as well. So, a little gentle kindness in viewing ourselves is always a good thing.

Not to be confused with enabling. There is that too. Most addicts do not know where one begins and the other lets off.

We don’t get to be taken off the hook for this stuff, just because someone who is enabling and has their own agenda believes we have done enough. No, we need to continue to work with these steps and allow the Universal Power to work in our lives to take away the damaging aspects of our personalities. But, it must always be tempered with kindness and gentle reminders that we are still God’s kids.

I love being God’s kid so much! It is a wonderful sense of belonging and happiness for me. I ain’t the only one, but I claim my place, that is for sure!

Having patience with me is certainly the message I get in this place of Grace that allows me to continue to grow and receive the most abundant and beautiful gifts that ever existed. It is the patience of the Power that continues to allow me to receive patience with myself. For that, I am certainly grateful.