I can offer my thoughts, opinions, views,
I don’t have to convince them that my way is right,
So not asked for advice…I’ll not spew.
When focused on others, I don’t look at MY LIFE
Is it full of joy, happiness…free?
By not paying attention to what others are doing,
I have time to take care of…just ME.
I JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHAT I’M DOING! (Ask God for help.)
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SIMPLE
I’ve learned to keep life SIMPLE,
Otherwise, I’ll get confused,
I focus on the tasks at hand,
And the TOOLS that I will use.
The 12-STEPS…SLOGANS come to mind,
The first tools that I apply,
The question that I ask myself,
Is this my job…..and why?
For I have found myself before,
In someone else’s problem,
Then life’s no longer SIMPLE,
For not mine…but theirs I’m solving.
My MEETINGS, SPONSORS, keep me centered,
On living MY LIFE TODAY.
Thank God I have the program tools,
So in SIMPLE…I can stay.
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GRAMMA SAID
“If we all hung our problems out on a line,
Ours would be the first that we’d take,”
When I look at the problems that others deal with,
My life is just a “piece of cake.”
The pain and hunger and turmoil and such,
To think, that I’ve been spared from these,
My Gramma was right, I would take all mine first,
I can handle my problems with ease.
I’m constantly grateful for the life that I have,
And have compassion for those who’re in pain,
I pray as I go, to my loving God,
For peace, that we ALL may obtain.
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UNSEEN
Don’t focus on what is seen…your circumstances,
But on what is UNSEEN…that is God’s PRESENCE.
For if we want peace and contentment in life,
God as our CENTER…is really our ESSENCE.
FAITH is the belief in the things UNSEEN,
And TRUST in the things hoped for,
Knowing the PRESENCE of God is with us,
We have no need for anything more.
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REMAIN CALM
When I begin to doubt and WORRY,
And fill up with apprehension,
All that does is churn me up,
With pressure and more tension.
It’s then I turn to Jesus Christ,
Who said “Do not be afraid!”
“Have no fear…I am with you!”
That restores CALMNESS to my day.
Like the apostles in the storm,
Jesus calmed the raging sea,
They all were safe…the boat didn’t capsize,
He will do the same for me.
No matter the challenges I might face,
Or how storms in my life will blow,
I will get through them with God’s help,
And that’s all I need to know.
This brings me peace…I can remain calm,
So I can enjoy my day,
My life and cares I give to Him,
Because I stop and I pray.
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NOT IN COMPETITION
I’m NOT in COMPETITION with others,
I want to be the BEST ME, I can be,
COMPARING will only confuse who I am,
IDENTIFYING…is a useful key.
By IDENTIFYING with others’ stories,
I can LEARN a lot about me,
What I want to DO…How I want to THINK,
What I can CHANGE,…It takes WISDOM you see.
I can learn from other people’s mistakes,
Not COMPETE to see who can win.
For I am who I am…a child of God,
I can LEARN from where I have been.
For we are a mirror of each other,
And we can see the things that we do,
And ACCEPT the positive…change the unhealthy,
And to GOD and OURSELVES…be TRUE.
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ACQUIRED NOT DESIRED
We’ve all had different experiences in life,
Not all of them something desired,
Yet, since EXPERIENCE is the best TEACHER,
That is how knowledge is acquired.
WISDOM a combination of intellect and love,
It increases as we grow in age,
We are attracted to those we can learn from,
They’re often referred to as “sage.”
If one has been blessed with the gift of WISDOM,
Through God’s grace they’ve become prepared,
Although lessons learned…were not asked for,
Then God expects that with others they share.
Negative experiences can be turned into positives,
For WISDOM is a gift from God,
The experience, strength and hope they’ve acquired,
Is to help others on this journey we trod.
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GIVE UP THE BATTLE
When I give up waging a losing battle,
It is then …I become free,
From trying to control what I can’t control,
It’s then I take full charge of ME.
The battle to control another’s life,
Is one that I never will win.
So if I surrender…let go…walk away.
It’s then…that MY LIFE will begin.
I give up the battle to find peace and joy,
In another direction I turn.
Taking care of MY LIFE, making choices for ME,
Is really my only concern.
When I take care of me…others will benefit,
I must be okay to help somebody else,
For if others always come first in my life,
Then really…I don’t have a SELF.
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GOD’S GRACE
We don’t have to experience suffering,
In order for GRACE to exist,
It simply has a life of its own,
For it’s GRACE that gives life a lift.
But where there is suffering, GRACE will be found,
It’s God’s gift that lightens our load,
Knowing we don’t have to face life alone,
Puts us in a “positive mode!”
God doesn’t allow more than HE CAN HANDLE,
That’s why He supplies GRACE for the trip,
We need to thank Him every day of our lives,
For His GRACE, so we won’t fall or slip.
GRACE guides and directs and comforts our pain,
From it…we draw strength to renew,
Our commitment to God to follow HIS WILL,
With His GRACE, everyday we’ll get through.
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DRAW CLOSER
The only task I have in life,
Is to MY GOD draw near,
As Jesus told me many times,
I am to have “NO FEAR.”
The evil things that come along,
Are not of Him, you see,
That’s why I have to “see the light”
He calls…”Come back to me!”
For life will take its “twists and turns,”
Most of them due to my CHOICES,
It’s only walking with my GOD,
That my heart rejoices.
If I get hooked by worldly things,
In God’s world, I’ll not be,
It’s only DRAWING CLOSE to Him,
Where my spirit, it is free.
I’ll see His GIFTS in daily sights,
In nature…birds and trees,
The flowers,
sky, the sun and stars,
Were made for you and me.
I see the power in His creation,
His goodness everywhere,
And if my life is not with Him,
It’s my CHOICES got me there.
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JUST KEEP GOING
Codependents’ minds just keep going,
They can’t just say a simple “No!”
After they decide to give someone an answer,
Their minds…over it and over it go.
They think about how the others will feel,
Are they disappointed, hurt or upset?
Then wonder if they should make an attempt,
To offer some other suggestions…and yet,
All they need to do is furnish an answer,
And then don’t go any farther.
STOP! right there, mind their own business,
And not let their mind start to wander.
They drive themselves crazy with mental gymnastics,
Should I have done this or that or said more?
When all they need is to furnish an answer,
And then STOP! and shut their mind’s door.
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DAILY I TRAVEL
DAILY I’m traveling toward my destination,
Do not know when my arrival will be,
It may be five or twenty-five years,
When my FATHER’S house I will see.
He gave me directions of how to get there,
Be good to those whose paths I may cross,
Love GOD, myself and one another,
If I do that…I will not get lost.
Take time to stop and consult with Him,
Make sure that I’m following His plan,
Pray without ceasing for wisdom and guidance,
And the protection of His loving hand.
My journey is bound to have twists and turns,
His map helps me avoid all the trauma,
Adhering closely to the directions He gave,
I can bypass some of the drama.
The pain I incur will be mostly self-inflicted,
When off of HIS course I do stray.
I look forward to traveling each day I arise,
With His directions, my fears are allayed.
The time that I spend between now and arrival,
I’ll be aware of the gifts that He’s sent,
To enjoy the beauty of the road that I travel,
And know that for me it was meant!
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IN CHARGE OF MY LIFE
Oh Lord, thank God …YOU are in charge of my life,
For I have set an agenda each day,
Before I know it, it has been revised,
And it has been changed to YOUR WAY.
People are added…events are deleted,
Places to go reassigned,
Tasks to be done…places to run,
Have been rearranged by Your mind.
Even as little as the clothes I’m to wear,
When I get dressed a button is gone,
So much for my plan of how I am dressing,
I’ll just go and put something else on.
How grateful I am to have YOU IN CHARGE,
I start with prayer and my daily plan,
And before I know it…it’s all changed around,
Through the guidance of Your loving hand.
I couldn’t have fathomed the things that You do,
Your way is always better than mine.
I say “thank you Lord” all through the day,
Because You’re so gracious and kind.
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A WONDERFUL LIFE
Yes…I have a WONDERFUL LIFE,
Conserve money and don’t overspend,
My life is peaceful and filled with JOY,
With a loving family and friends.
I mind my own business, take care of me,
Have BALANCE in things that I do,
I have a GOD who guides me along,
Telling me what I need to pursue.
I have food and shelter…my needs are met,
A church, a career and some goals,
I plug along like the tortoise (with the hare),
In AWE as each moment unfolds.
Daily enjoying the time that I have,
Contentment inside to be found,
By slowing down…AWARE what’s around,
And keeping my feet on the ground.
I really have a WONDERFUL LIFE,
I thank GOD for His wondrous gift,
GRATEFUL each day for all that I have,
For life’s race is not won by the swift….
Who daily are running around in a panic,
Overextending themselves everywhere,
Yes, I have a WONDERFUL LIFE,
For I’m the tortoise…and not the hare.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hope Ulch Brown has been blessed to write and publish books of inspirational messages. She considers her writing ability to be a gift from God. This book of poems is but a sample of those messages, and she hopes that you enjoy reading them as much as she enjoyed writing them.
In 1982, Hope went through a divorce after a 15-year marriage that was touched by alcoholism. At the time of divorce, she had four children at ages 5, 8, 11 and 13. While raising her children, she was active in their education and served on the Board of Education.
When her marriage ended, she was in therapy and a member of a 12 Step Program for Families of Alcoholics. Hope is still an active member 31 years later.
As a former teacher, Hope returned to her profession while gaining a Master's Degree in Counseling. In 1986, she began working as a therapist in residential treatment until the treatment center closed in 1992.
Today, Hope works in private practice and is a frequent speaker at treatment centers, churches, schools and organizations specializing in the disease of addiction, co-dependency, and recovery. She also moderates spiritual retreats for recovering people.
For more information, please visit her website at:
https://www.dailymessagesofhope.com
Here are Hope’s other books:
Recovery Reflections on Life Faith Love by Hope Ulch Brown (Jun 2003)
Recovery...Food for the Soul: Steps on a Spiritual Journey By Hope Ulch Brown (Feb 16, 2007)
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33 Messages of Hope Page 2