By Rosie Preston
Many people have spent the last year filled with good and bad situations. Personally, The Serenity Prayer continues to be my daily guide to accept the reality of anything dealing with sadness or gladness.
It took me several years to learn that I couldn’t fix things, situations or people. And the most important lesson is that I needed to stay out of other people’s problems. I’ll never forget something that I tried to fix when I was in my 20s.
My brother-in-law and his girlfriend kept breaking up and getting back together over and over! Each would call me for advice and, of course, I felt qualified to give my opinion. This went on for days until I finally saw no solution and advised maybe they should break up.
A couple of days later I received call from each of them accusing me of breaking up their relationship. I was almost in shock, but mostly surprised with them pointing anger towards me.
The situation not only brought tears to my eyes, but since this was the first time I had been caught in the middle, I promised I wouldn’t allow this to happen again. Sadly, I wasn’t strong enough, or had extra time to try to help out again, and again.
In closing this article, my New Year’s resolution is to give heed to my own advice. It is ironic that the main reason I have decided this is not my lack of caring, I just do not have the extra energy to get involved. I only have the energy to care for myself. I often feel guilty and selfish, but there is a scripture in Luke 10:27 which states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself.”
It took me years to understand that after loving God, we are instructed to love ourselves, and with that acclimation, our love overflows onto our neighbors.
Now, I understood that our neighbors include everyone outside ourselves. We should not judge on their color of skin, nationality, poverty or wealth for it is said, “there but for the grace go I.” Our situation of health or wealth can change in the blink of an eye.
This is a great observation to believe as we live in a world surrounded by those who do not know that we can be the one who chooses to let there be love, joy and peace, and l am letting it begin with me.
Have a blessed New Year!
Contact Rosie Preston at rosie.preston@yahoo.com.
