Acceptance

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. "
Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd ed. p449.


I've heard much said on acceptance, but the quote listed above is probably one of my favorites. Partially, it is the one that I learned with. It's the one my friend Karen quoted the most as she helped me disentangle from my "unacceptable" perspective.

It helped me to learn that "acceptance" didn't mean agreement. I didn't have to LIKE it to accept it. As a matter of fact, I could be really angry and hurt by the situation or the circumstances. Acceptance simply meant looking at it in the Light of Truth, and not trying to change it.

I can't make people "do right"....heck, half of the time, I can't make MYSELF "do right". But, seeing in the Light of Truth, without trying to change it, or deny it, or flower it up nice, allows me to choose. I can choose the next right course of action for myself. That choice is a gift.

I can ask God to show me what to do next. If I'm busy trying to change it, deny it, manipulate it, I can't ask and I certainly can't hear.

I don't always like what I see. I don't like it that people don't respond like I think they should. I don't like it that people get hurt and make bad choices.

But I do get to decide: Where will I step? Will I wait? Will I walk away? Do I need to stand firmly? Hold a mirror? Extend grace?

Show me where to step, Lord...



“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future.”