True Serenity

"My level of acceptance profoundly impacts my serenity."
-Hope for Today (Alanon book), December 23 Devotion

In today's devotion, the writer talked about working with someone in their company that they did not get along with whatsoever. Over time, though, they were able to truly accept the situation and the person in order to move forward.

Last year, my mom and I did not get along at Christmas at all. It was really rough. We argued whenever we were around each other. To be completely honest, it was brutally awful.

This Christmas, everything is so different. It's like a complete 180 degree turn-around.

What's different?

Well, for one, I am on medications. I was very sick last Christmas, mentally. My schizophrenia and bipolar were beginning to really act up and worsen. My mom said she thought I was just very irritated. She didn't know at the time just how sick I was, until I started being hospitalized. I don't think anybody knew how truly sick I was, especially me.

So how does this all fit in to the quote above?

You see, my family has had to accept my severe mental illness, including me. I have also had to accept my mom the way she is and move forward in a more peaceful manner. We have not always had the easiest of times together, but I accept her for who she is and no matter what she has done in the past. That is just part of moving forward.

I love the quote above because I agree wholeheartedly with it. We have to truly accept our circumstances and the people around us in order to have serenity and contentment. Everything may not be perfect in our lives, but when we walk forward despite them, we may find a serenity we may never have expected...