All We Have Is All We Need. Karen Casey

today.

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      Resentments clearly injure us. And others. Our relationships are intentional. Ask, “What do I need to see today? Is there an amend that needs to be made?”

      ALL WE HAVE IS ALL WE NEED

      Forgiveness heals, ourselves and others too. Am I willing to forgive a friend or perhaps a stranger today?

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      We cannot feel resentment and forgiveness at the same time. The choice is obvious.

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      Regardless of any painful experience, it must finally be forgiven if we are to know peace in all our relationships. Am I willing to consider this possibility today?

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      The accumulation of unforgiven resentments becomes “the stuff” of wars. Ask, “Am I contributing to peace today?”

      HONOR OUR COMMON PATH

      The greatest deed for humankind we can contribute today is forgiveness. Do I need to seek an opportunity to forgive a past hurt today?

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      Forgiveness honors others. It softens us, too. I may have an opportunity to help two or more people today. Will I take it?

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      Be grateful for every relationship. It has come our way by design. Even those relationships we are not peaceful in have something to offer us if we change how we see them. Am I looking?

      ALL WE HAVE IS ALL WE NEED

      Seemingly insignificant relationships are as important as the very memorable ones. Believing this will change every experience in one's life.

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      Difficult relationships educate us. We need them. We can walk away, and the lesson they are offering will come in another way, on another day. The decision to stay is ours. Today may be the day for making this decision.

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      Remember that “who you see is who you are” in the moment of seeing. Understanding this can change the complexion of every relationship. Am I seeing what I want to see today?

      HONOR OUR COMMON PATH

      Our relationships teach us everything we have come here to learn. Are you taking advantage of your opportunities today?

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      Relationships teach us how to forgive. They also present opportunities for making amends. Our hearts are softened by both. That's why they are significant. Do I need to do one or the other today?

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      We cannot learn how forgiveness feels in isolation. And forgiveness is what ushers peace into our lives and into the lives of those we journey with, both here and elsewhere.

      ALL WE HAVE IS ALL WE NEED

      Isolation never, ever solves a problem. It will however, complicate it. I will focus my energy on being present to my teachers today. My solution will be found there.

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      Every relationship is connected to every other relationship one has. None are inviolate. Can I honor this idea today by how I treat every person I encounter?

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      To do no harm is a shortcut to improving all relationships. Making this choice even once today will have a positive influence.

      HONOR OUR COMMON PATH

      Doing no harm in one relationship miraculously improves all relationships. Experience this miracle today.

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      Every person who refrains from harming someone today improves the relationships of every other person today.

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      The choice to do no harm is the least complicated choice to make today.

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      Any discomfort tells us that we have work to do in our relationships. Maybe it's time to make an amend. I am willing to consider this possibility today.

      ALL WE HAVE IS ALL WE NEED

      Being in relationships with others is why we are here. Am I fully appreciative of this information today?

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      What you give in one relationship, you give in all relationships. Today is no exception.

      Take the Road to Peace II

      LETTING GO, SURRENDERING THE NEED TO CONTROL, AND ACCEPTING WHAT IS

      THE DESIRE to control our loved ones and the events in our lives is seductive, very powerful, and so very foolish. We are all guilty of trying to control other people, but we will never find peace by making a hostage of someone. The men and women in our lives are there for only one purpose: they are our preselected teachers. Every interaction is divine. Every encounter is intentional.

      Surrendering our attempts to be in charge of other people or events relieves us of a huge burden. It may seem like there is too little to do if we're not trying to make others do our will. Trying to manage everything has become our job. But being in charge of our own behaviors and attitudes is a full-time job, and it's the only one we need! We will eventually love the freedom that we feel if we give up the illusion of control. We never really had it anyway. We only thought we did.

      Letting others live their own lives takes willingness coupled with practice. One of the gifts of letting go of control over other people's lives is that it gives us the time to attend to our own needs and decisions. In the process, we discover that we have very rich lives that are quite separate from our loved ones', lives that are full of joy and promise. When we focus on the details of other people's lives, we're not able to see the opportunities for new experiences that have been trying to get our attention all along. Lucky for us, they've waited, and they will continue to do so until we are ready to notice them.

      Alongside of giving up control over people and experiences is acceptance of the people and events in our lives as they are. Careful attention will reveal that every conversation, every event, has a message for us and every person has a part to play in the drama that's unfolding in our lives. We don't have to understand why an experience has captured our attention or why a particular person has come calling. It's appropriate to celebrate the importance of our interactions no matter where they happen; they are the experiences that carry us to the next stage of our education. In many instances of conflict with our companions, we—and the relationship—will be best served if we remain quiet. Or perhaps simply smile rather than turn away. The practice of accepting what has arisen as an opportunity for growth and then letting go of any desire to control it is the right response. Surrendering to a situation where necessary, and letting God be in charge of all people and outcomes, will make all our relationships more fun and more peaceful. We do get what we need. Just not always what we want.