October 5
Ask For Mercy, Not Justice
"Many of us have difficulty admitting that we caused harm for others... We cut away our justifications and our ideas of being a victim."
Basic Text p.37
Our lives are progressing nicely. Things are going good, and each year in recovery brings more material and spiritual gifts. We may have a little money in the bank, a new car, or a committed relationship. We have a little self-confidence, and our faith in a Higher Power is growing.
Then, something happens. Someone breaks into our new car and steals the stereo, or the person we're in the relationship with becomes unfaithful. Right away, we feel victimized. "Where's the justice?" we wail. But if we take a look back on our own behavior, we may find that we've been guilty of what's just been done to us. We realize we wouldn't really want justice - not for ourselves, and not for others. What we want is mercy.
We thank a loving God for the compassion we've been shown, and we take the time to appreciate all the precious gifts that recovery brings.
Just for today: I will pray for mercy, not justice. I am grateful for the compassion I've been shown, and will offer mercy to others.
© Copyright 2009
1 comment
Indeed..it is easy to adopt the mind frame that we are the only one with problems and issues. We forget to step in others shoes and become subjected to thinking our own issues are all that are in the world, "we are the only ones" mentality.
Compassion for everyone is definatly a way to help you heal yourself. Learning that you are not the only one with problems and issues will help you in your journey.....And your right, we do become wrapped up in the idea of thinking that 'your ' always the victim, when in fact some of what we deal with is the direct result of our own actions and that most of our problems could have been non-exsistant if we just goverened our own actions
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LOL..I could write a whole paper on this subject but I will spare you all but I say yes recovery will begin with more things that you will see differently, when you open your eyes to others issues, and when you teach and show mercy for yourself and others
~Flops~