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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Persistence
Post Info TOPIC: Persistence
Jerry F


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Persistence
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This was the subject for discussion (in part) at my morning meeting and the crowd was into it so all I had to do was sit and listen.  My now sponsor was there and my former sponsors also ...in spirit; thank you God.  There was a 9 year anniversary and tomorrow an 18 monther, a young man who has followed the suggestions and stuck with it who has the same name as my eldest son who hasn't.  I'm powerless and not moving back into unmanageability again.  Spoke a bit of my own persistence coming from not knowing and not knowing I wasn't knowing to opening up my mind (as our closing suggests) and asking for help.  God I am still amazed at how my life was rescued...soooo amazed.  My sponsorship and the fellowship persisted with me...didn't let up even when I was urging them for more and when I was squeeking "I quit...this isn't working"!!  I remember the promise "If after 90 days you find that this isn't for you, you can leave and try anything else and we will gladly refund your miseries".  Damn I thought that was heartless as a saying.  I hung with keep coming back and as I did...so did they and they were always there for me.   Mahalo Akua...Thank you God...soooo much.

I returned home and decided one of the things I would do was rebuild my garden which I had turned fallow a year and some back.  It's my kalo or taro garden which a certain micro insect was trying to destroy entirely.  I quit on it and had to until this morning.  I weeded and dug and turned the ground over and pulled up the plants I had left to their own devices and then I was surprised...these kalo plants, a type I love so much had not quit...they persisted heroically because the perpetrator was somewhat still around trying to finish them off and it didn't happen.  I harvested what lay waiting and am amazed as I always am when another lesson beyond my simple understanding comes home.  You can (or we can) eat this entire plant...leaves, stems, corms (or submerged bodies) and still continue to regrow them.  Hawaiian cultural sustainability which includes spirituality.   I redid the garden, build the furrows, treated the ground, and replanted as I was taught and then I brought in what was edible which will result in more than several deliscious meals.  If any of you have eaten "Hawaiian" you know what laulau are and taste like and what poi is also.  

I am soooo grateful and content at what was and has been going on without my involvement and participation...HP and the plants persisted and I got the gifts.  I love what's coming next,  My wife doesn't like poi still and then no problem...I got that taken care of...me and my great grandsons...just gotta make sure I get my fingers back fast enough and intact when and if I let them take the poi, which is naturally sweet, off an extended finder.

Persistence...what a wide concept.    Thanks for letting me share.    (((((hugs))))) smile



-- Edited by Jerry F on Sunday 8th of June 2014 01:04:24 AM

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neshema2


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WOW!!   What a NEAT story......Jerry, that was great illustration of being persistent....and i can relate to the   " I remember the promise "If after 90 days you find that this isn't for you, you can leave and try anything else and we will gladly refund your miseries".  Damn I thought that was heartless as a saying.  I hung with keep coming back and as I did...so did they and they were always there for me. "    

I mostly went on line for my meets and i would squeal, too,  "i am not growing....screw this crap...it isn't working"  and i got the same response  be it face to face meets which are so hard to find here, healthy ones that is, AND the on line ones where folks saw me regularly working and griping that i wasn't healing "fast enough"   oh yea,  but , as with you, my hunger for healing at any price was so great i kept coming back as i was encouraged as well........soooo glad i did.......that was over 12 years now.......



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milkwood


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What a wonderful story about your garden Jerry - I just love that our plants show us that it is such a natural instinct to survive and grow. I'm enjoying pictures of the nutritious poi-fest!

I smiled in recognition at the subject of your meeting. My school reports used to say 'must persevere'. I really took that lesson to heart - I keep beavering away and find it so difficult to give up on anything or anybody. I can see how it has served me well sometimes, but it is also a bit of an albatross. Let go, Let God is a huge lesson for me and often leaves me standing in my own confusion about what to do next!!

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grateful2be


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Loved the picture and the lesson for me in it - not so much about persistence but about letting something be. Thanks, Jerry.

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PP


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Pesistence, letting be and letting go and the wisdom to know which to do, when.  These I ponder, but, until I read these posts wasn't able to sum up. You painted some vivid pictures, Jerry, and gave me a good message for today through the post and the responses it elicited.  I just couldn't conjure up the delicious tastes, though, dang!



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Paula
hotrod


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Thanks Jerry A lovely example of how HP and program works if we work it. I am so pleased that you are persistent.;)

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Betty

THE HIGHEST FORM OF WISDOM IS KINDNESS

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el-cee


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Beautiful jerry, I love that the flowers and plants survived, even they have a higher power. Thank you, I love reading your shares, always rich in imagery.x

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Beatrice


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Persistence....
A difficult lesson of not giving up and giving in. Reminds me of stopping in the middle of your voyage.
How can you admire the Moonlight over the ocean if you stop in the middle of your journey and don't continue.

I get the lesson, now to put into action...practice.

Hugs, Bettina



-- Edited by Beatrice on Sunday 8th of June 2014 05:20:12 PM

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Debilyn


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(c: earthy things are so much a part of you.

I see your progress over the years. What you share is always right on and said in a loving way.

Persistence is a good quality, never giving up on that which is important to you. As long as it is a healthy goal!

hugs!



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