Half Measures

Many of my character defects appear daily: self-condemnation, anger, running away, being prideful, wanting to get even, or acting out of grandiosity.
Attempting half measures to eliminate these defects merely paralyzes my efforts to change.
It is only when I ask God for help, with complete abandon, that I become willing -- and able -- to change.

Difference

Human beings share many characteristics.

One of the most important is difference.

Today I will cherish these differences as one of the bonds that joins me to others.

The Grace Of God

Some of the temptations, the trials we face, have changed very little throughout the history of humankind.
The grace of God is that power which enables us to become useful, normal persons.
The grace of God is also manifest in our love for others, compassion for their problems, and a real willingness to help them.
The grace of God also manifests itself as peace of mind and serenity.
We can have abundant power, love, and serenity in our lives if we ask God for them each day.

I pray that I may see God's grace in the strength, love, and serenity in my life.
I pray that I may be grateful for the things I have received through the grace of God.

Making God A Reality

The work of the inner life is to make God a reality, so that He is no more an imagination; that this relationship that man has with God may seem more real than any other relationship in the world; and when this happens, then all relationships, however near and dear, become less binding.
But at the same time, a person does not thus become cold; he becomes more loving.
It is the godless man who is cold, impressed by the selfishness and lovelessness of the world, because he partakes of those conditions in which he lives.
But the one who is in love with God, the one who has established his relationship with God, his love becomes living.

The purpose of one's whole life
is to make God a reality.

The Foundation of All Virtues

Human love is given to illuminate by its sincerity the heart of another, there is no greater power to inspire than the power of love.
The desire for service, gentleness, tolerance, kindness, forgiveness, all come from love.
Love alone is a fountain from which all virtues fall as drops of sparkling water.
Love is given to inspire divine love in the heart of man, and all the beauty that man sees on earth is beauty created by the power of love, and by the power of love he learns to recognize it as a reflection of the beauty of heaven.
Thus may earth become heaven, and heaven and earth one single vision of the glory of God.

Love alone is the fountain from which all virtues

fall as drops of sparkling water.

Acceptance

Suppose life deals me one crushing blow after another, none of them deserved.

What can I do about it?

Well, I can weep and whine.

If that doesn't improve things, I can get drunk. And if that doesn't work, I can kill myself.

Or I can accept the situation and live.

Those are my only options.
Living appears to be the best; if things should happen to improve, I will be around to benefit.