PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 23: “Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.” ― Elisabeth Elliot
This quote inspired me to sing…”He’s got the whole world in His hands…” which is very weird for me to do. Not something I sing often or even think about.
I love how memory works…or doesn’t work, depending on the day and memory I am striving to recall. I write things down a great deal more than I used to. It helps.
I love the first line of this quote the best. There is nothing more ugly and heart breaking than my impatience and restlessness. We speak of being “restless, irritable and discontent” around the rooms, and I call it the RID syndrome. And the phrase I read in my early years “chronic malcontent” is so perfect for describing my mindset when I am stuck in addiction and those old thinking patterns.
Nothing feels right or goes my way…ugh!
I am very happy in my life today. There are so few big deals. No hassles, no worries, not really many upsets to work through. It is a pretty smooth body of water where I live now. There can be storms, but the work in these steps has given me the ability to find solutions and not shoot myself or anyone else in the process. And storms always pass.
“This, too, shall pass” is my new favorite quote from the many mottos we hear in meetings. It was not a favorite for a long time. I just did not get that it would.
I think another form of emotional maturity is knowing that MY big deals are not. That YOUR big deals are not. That ALL of it is just drama and it will ALL pass. Oh! And that brings me a great deal more peace than I ever thought I would have. I can sit in the middle of a shit-storm and not play in it. It ain’t my deal. If I do get caught up, I can mellow out very quickly. I watch others get caught up and it is sad. I have had my share of drama. I am done as much as I can be and want to be. Today I want to be done.
ALL of it IS in the hands of the Power who knows (SO much better than any of us) what to do and how it is all going to unfold. That gives me plenty of time to just have a good day…so many good days. I love that!
Dolphin Hug 