Acceptance is the key…

“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.”

This quote is from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, third edition pg. 449.  I can remember reading the entry for the first time and then reading it over and over and over.  It was like a new door to my life had been opened.  What I read and finally figured out almost 21 years ago was that I could not control other people, places and things.  Wow, the freedom I felt when this epiphany took place.  For years I was the ultimate controller and this behavior almost put me in my grave.

Acceptance is simply letting God play God and Jay playing his role as one of God’s children.  Today I’ve pretty much figured out what I can control and that is my attitude and my effort in all of the roles I am responsible for.  If I give the best of each and let God control the rest then serenity becomes an everyday thing.

Philippians 4:6-7 says it all “Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.  And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus..” (NCV) 

If something is bothering you try acceptance.  You don’t have to like what you are accepting but you’ve got to accept it if you want to experience peace.

P.E.A.C.E.

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