Once again, the morning meeting led me to write about what we discussed. It started with “resentment” and moved into other subjects. We were in the book on the 4th Step. I was thinking about how the immense fear of making amends to my children caused me to wait for eight years before the heavy burden in my heart was lifted. I finally understood what the old timers meant by “this too shall pass.” I realized if I followed another slogan, “Just do it,” I could get to the other side.

Another was saying “Nothing lasts forever.” This morning, I was guided to think of how living in Florida which has a vigorous hurricane season lasting for six months. We go from “the calm before the storm” to the chaos of tracking a storm with the worries of what it may do to my life. I see on TV that storms directly strike, businesses and homes are destroyed, and some of the resident’s lives are turned upside down. I don’t know how many of these people who have lost everything can think, “This too shall pass” and “Nothing lasts forever.” When I find myself focusing on what the future may bring instead of on the idea that no matter what happens, I will be okay with the help of that power which is greater than I.

The same ideas can be used in so many areas of my life. Back to the topic of resentment. I have never had a resentment that has lasted forever. Well, I did carry one for a year against the guy who moved in with my girlfriend after we broke up. A year later, she was very sick, so I stopped by for a visit. The boyfriend’s van had been parked in front of her apartment for the previous year. I asked where her boyfriend was. She said how he had died a year before. I asked about the van and was told how the family of her friend had given her his van after his passing. It was then that I realized how I carried resentment for a year against a dead person. What a waste of emotional energy. I did get through and moved on to more bad decisions. I know future resentments are right around the corner. Right now, I am in the calm before the storm. When the storm comes, I can carry it around, making every moment miserable, or I can pray for that person and move through the storm back to the calm. The choice is mine, and only I can change my path.

By the time the meeting ended, I couldn’t wait to get home and write down these ideas. Here I am, with it all on paper. The last part of the lesson was for me to internalize these methods into my toolbox. Once I include God in the toolbox, it becomes a “Power Tool Box.” Do you have a power toolbox? Why not?