THE PROMISES OF RECOVERY
Chapter 10

THE GIFT OF LOVE

The Power of Love
The Power of Love co-ordinates with February, the love month, and the color is pink. Of course, the disciple associated with Love is John, “the disciple Jesus loved” according to the bible, which makes sense, since he is the one who told us “God is Love,” not once, but many times in the First Letter of John. Logic tells us that if God is Love, and God is All, then All is Love; you are love, I am love, everyone is love. There is nothing that is not love. This is powerful!
Naturally, the heart is the center for Love, and Dr. Knapp, in “The Twelve Powers in You,” includes the entire circulatory system: heart, liver, spleen, blood vessels, blood, and lymphatic system. Imagine the healing power when we use affirmations of love directed throughout our entire body.
“Abide in My Love”
I began my Love Week, for facilitating the Twelve Powers Group in November, by reading my own writing in the “Transformations Twelve Power Process” course, and decided that I would venture into reading it aloud in the group, while they color their mandalas, because most of the words are quotes from John’s dissertations on love in the Book of John in the bible. For instance: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will,  and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love … This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
“Abide in my love,” don’t you just love those words? Take a few moments and imagine yourself abiding in the love of Jesus, or God, which is all one and the same, along with the Holy Spirit. Feel yourself floating in a river of God-Love, and feel it permeating within you too, for there is no place that God-Love is not.
I Love You
In my course, I wrote “The truth is that not only is God ‘in here’ but God is ‘out there’ too. Wow! So there is no way we are not ‘in love with God and each other.
This makes sense when we realize that the atom is composed of electrons, protons, neutrons and other components, but scientists also know that there seems to be something else, and they are willing to admit this could be God, and if God is Love, then this unnamed ingredient, within every atom, is God-Love. It is the cohesive, pure essence of Being that binds all together. God as Love coagulates all things into oneness and keeps the atoms in a form, rather than scattered all about. God as Love is “Christ in you, the mystery hidden for ages” that Paul writes about. It is the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ that Jesus described.
“Within each of our cells lies a chromosome, a blueprint, of who we are. This blueprint contains within it the Christ, or perfect man creation that God idealizes. The same is true of the acorn which carries within it the perfect pattern of the full grown oak tree. This Perfect-pattern (Christ) is brought forth in the regeneration process that brings us from the bondage or lemmatization of the sense person into outer manifestation of the perfect Christ-self. This is our purpose in life.
“We must recognize this love-presence within and call it forth, just as we turn on a light switch or TV in order to enjoy their benefits.
“Love is the outer -- and inner-- manifestation of the Christ. Jesus was/is the prototype of the Christ in manifestation. He is the example we all may follow. He is the Wayshower. He said, ‘Anything I can do, you can do better.’
“I LOVE YOU. YOU LOVE ME.”
Love Energies With Gail
I wrote the above words many years ago, yet I’m not walking on water, nor am I enjoying a love-relationship with my spiritual partner, so there must be more that Jesus knew and lived.
In the meantime, I’m living life “one day at a time,” in love. For instance, one day I’d arranged to take the lift bus and meet my daughter, Gail, for lunch and then drive to a farm where she could buy some local produce with food coupons I’d received in June; now they would expire and I needed to use them, so decided to share them with my family, as a gift of love.
However, Gail called to say that she wasn’t feeling well enough for that adventure and she would be going to bed.
I suggested, since I already had the bus scheduled, I’d come and stay awhile and she could rest. But, when I arrived, she was up and dressed and asked “Where do you want to go for lunch?”
I admire Gail’s ability to keep on keeping on, even when she can barely function, and we enjoyed lunch at a nice restaurant, while visiting about subjects of mutual interest (A week later, she told me that she had been prescribed medications that caused her to become nearly catatonic, and I remembered that she had had a similar reaction many years ago, from a similar medication).
After lunch, we went to the farm, but they didn’t have any produce, as it was too late in the season. However, they had large bags of frozen berries and peaches, which she selected, with plans of making some cobblers or pies when she felt better.
I’d enjoyed sharing the love energies with Gail, and also her cats, Weezie and Gretchen, but she was exhausted by the time the lift bus arrived, and we hugged and said our goodbyes.
Lunch With Arianna and Airica
My granddaughters, Arianna and Airica, and I had been talking about getting together for lunch, and since they too would be using the rest of my produce coupons, we arranged our outing for the next day.
It’s interesting that I’d been trying to get together with Gail, and my granddaughters, to share these coupons, for four months, and we finally made it during the love energies. I’m sure it’s all part of God’s Divine Plan for good.
In any event, the girls met me where I live, and we chatted as we drove to Tin Tin’s, a favorite Chinese buffet, not too far away and close to the Growers Outlet, where we could use the coupons.
Airica shared about missing her boyfriend, Joe, who had recently flown out from Colorado and returned. And Arianna filled me in on their plans to remain here until spring, which made me happy. I just love being able to get together with the family members, including my granddaughters and great-granddaughters. I dreaded the thought of them moving back to Colorado.
However, I’ve learned to enjoy the present moment, and today the buffet was delicious and I even enjoyed the egg foo young, along with all the other good food.
We didn’t have much time together, because Arianna had a birthday party to attend, with her daughters, and we still had to go to the Growers Outlet. Though time was short, the girls had fun making their selections and chatted about the vegetables being helpful on their diet.
This too, was a love-full time, and I enjoyed the glow of sharing the love energies with my granddaughters.
Taking Care of Myself
I spent most of the week taking care of myself, attempting to relieve the tightness in my neck, which had been causing discomfort for three or four weeks. Judy, my acupuncturist, gave a special treatment for balance, which would loosen the energies in the area for the next day when the student doctor, Eric, gave me a structural integration treatment at the naturopathic clinic. I’d requested Young Lee, as my secondary, because she gives a powerful treatment for the gall bladder meridian.
The combination of the two days about knocked me out, but I went to my Al-anon Meeting that night too. And I also had my haircut, before taking the city bus to the naturopathic clinic. It’s all part of taking care of myself. And the next day I went on the Grocery Shuttle to do my weekly shopping, then I came home and worked on my website. And I’d spent time, during the week, reading and preparing my lesson on Love.
Wednesday night I attended the “Journey That Never Was” class and we talked about Prayer and Meditation, and then shared in groups of three. I delighted to be the only female with two, of the four, men, in our group, so I enjoyed the male energies, as we continued to talk about prayer. The group dynamics had started in the large group of twenty, where the love energies were felt, by this fourth week of bonding in discussions about hearing the voice of God, through the Holy Spirit. Several people had experienced contact, and rejoiced in sharing.
During the break, I talked with one of the men who had been going to attend my group, but chose this one, instead. I mentioned that he might enjoy checking my website, and learned that he is a computer person and might be interested in helping with my website. Also, one of the women who attends my group talked about a friend who might be interested in working with my prison ministry, on the website. So, many surprises were evolving from my church involvements. Thank You, God. 
“I Count …”
By Thursday, I appreciated The Daily Reading, which provided love-full words for self-love: “I count -- in my home, work place, neighborhood, and world. What I say and do is important because no other person can be me. I am one of God’s creations and because I am, I know that I have a sacred role to fill in a divine plan.
“Others can count on me as a compassionate friend and a loving family member. I am not only a spiritual seeker; I am also a spiritual doer who is making a positive difference today. In both seemingly inconsequential and all-important matters, I matter because I am a voice of reason, a source of peace, a well-spring of ideas.
“I can never think of myself as anyone other than who I am: a creation of God’s love and life. I accept all others as sacred creations also. God’s spirit is within us and expresses as us in powerfully sacred ways.”
“I Love You”
I knew the Love session would be love-full, and it started with a bouquet of pink Gerber Daisies, imbued by the radiance from their giver, the gal who was the only person in the Power session the week before. Such love energies emanated from those pink flowers as she smiled and said “I love you.” She had shared with me that the Power session had opened the way for a breakthrough that revealed the cause of her blockage in communicating, and also the shutdown of her own power. She had become empowered, and her love energies radiated from her, as she shared her experiences from the previous week with the rest of the group, in the large circle.
Love Stories
The group had returned to the usual number, with the return of WA, who had been on assignment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the Red Cross, to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As a chaplain, his love energies had responded to the call, and he found himself offering solace and comfort to the members of the Volunteer team, while carrying out his duties for the three weeks. His stories spoke of  chaos and overwhelm as the Red Cross attempted to deal with this tragedy, yet his love and compassion must have been a calming influence, along with others who had felt the call to reach out in love.
Both Pats had returned, and each had a story to tell. One shared a story of personal empowerment from dressing as a sexy flapper for the church Halloween Party, which allowed her to express love for her true self; an important aspect of the love session.
The second Pat told about her adult daughter returning from California to live, and temporarily staying with her family, as the subject of family love evolved.
Another story of family loved was shared by Bill, who had returned from a visit with his elderly parents and his brother. He spoke of making a sincere effort to listen, as they visited, and actually hearing what they were saying. We could feel his sincere experience relating to Power and Love.
Dolores, too, is dealing with family love issues, while she and Bill are living with her mother, under extremely difficult conditions. God is really putting her through the obstacle course of learning opportunities, as she processes through her Transformation Process.
The Love-Circle
Another form of love energies took place as the members of the group colored their Love mandala, while listening and sharing their stories. At the break, each shared their progress on the love-circle, which has a wide outer ring and an inner design that looks like stained glass when completed. It’s such a joy to see the different creations of beauty, colored with the many colors of love, often highlighted with the pink love energies, but not always.
When I originally facilitated the workshops, and then wrote the course, I had specified certain coloring instructions, but through the years I realized there is no right or wrong way to color the mandalas; each is an expression of the individual creativity, which is as it should be.
Thinking of the love-circle term, I remembered that, in my zeal, during my ministry with prisoners, whom I called freedomers (inmates seeking inner freedom), I’d created a complex idea of networking called “The Love Connection.” In any event, the members (freedomers, family and friends) were to communicate with each other, through letters, as a support system.
Like many of my ideas, typical of codependents, it never quite got completed, and died from lack of interest. It was a good, love-full idea, though, and maybe some day I’ll include it on my website, when God is ready for it to happen.  
Another process, “The Love Circle,” done in person, involved recognition of our most important communication: “Please love me. Please accept my love.” Two people sit across from each other and speak the above words. And the other person replies: “I love you. I accept your love.” A very power-full, emotion-full experience.
The Love Process
I must admit that getting back into these energies of my former endeavors and presenting them to this group felt fulfilling and empowering for me. For instance, this session I shared much of my writings about Love from my “Transformations Twelve Power Process” course, including excerpts from the love-full “Book of John” in the bible, such as “Abide in my love.”
I concluded my presentation with The Love Process, which is an experience of the pink love energies that concludes with loving oneself and the world. One version of this process involves sharing love energies with the members of one’s family, which is very healing. Another version suggests that one create a bottle of love lotion which you can massage into your body, as you say “I love you” to all parts of your body. This is a good process for healing the body, because it does respond to love, including your own.
Remember, God is Love, God is All, All is Love, You are Love. This means that you are speaking words of love to God, as you love yourself and your body.
After the process, the energy was so high that no one felt like moving into one-on-one sharing, so we continued sharing in the large group, as the love just kept radiating into the room, as they talked about their experiences with the Love Process.
A Gift From Gail
The energies from Thursday night seemed to stay with me on Friday, which is my day for Joanie, my inner child. First there is my massage, which was again done by Sonja, since Holcomb is unable to do it, because of her arm being injured in the bike accident.
I’d worked in an appointment for an X-ray of my neck, promising Joanie that we would go to a movie, later. In the meantime, Gail called and wanted to meet me for lunch and the movie. Also, she had something she wanted to give me, so arrangements were made to meet. I couldn’t imagine what she was so excited about, because it’s not my birthday, and it’s too far till Christmas.
Gail puts so much love into her gifts, and she’s always been able to buy the perfect gift, within her budget, ever since she was a little girl. This time was no exception, as she placed a gift bag on the table and began explaining the significance of the stars and the butterflies on the outside.
“You see, it says ‘Reach for the stars.’ This is because I’m acknowledging you for what you are doing with your ‘Transformation’ course. You’ve set your course, and you are in the process of fulfilling your dream by facilitating the group at church. You could just have easily given up, but you didn’t. You kept going, and now you’re doing it.”
She began pulling the colored tissue from the bag and asking “What’s this for?”
“Love,” I said, as she held the bright pink tissue.
“And this?”
“Faith,” for the dark blue. On she went through yellow, gold and green, and the explained the purpose of the ornate gold ribbon with stars falling from the curly bow, “This is another reminder of you reaching for the stars.”
She unwrapped something from a plastic bag, as she said, “I wrapped this so it wouldn’t smell of smoke, and she held up a beautiful purple flannel scarf with multi-colored yarn for the fringe, and said, “This is to keep you warm and symbolize the colors of your Twelve Powers,” as she wrapped it around my neck, with the soft flannel conveying the love she was extending.
Again, she reached into the bag and pulled out a pretty multi-colored pencil that also symbolized the colors of the Twelve Powers.
Then she tipped the bag and revealed a box, which she instructed me to remove, adding, “Now, open the box,” and she explained the significance of the outer-space tissue inside, “See, this has lots of stars on it.”
I was so overwhelmed by all the trimmings that anything else would be superfluous, but then I unwrapped the white tissue and saw the flat crystal star with its flowing tail and a flat votive candle, and Gail said, “This is special crystal made in Germany, and it’s to acknowledge you for reaching for your star. I just want you to know that I really get what you went through for this to happen.”
She held it up and said, “See, it’s to put on a table, and you can light the candle, too.”
I could hardly believe my eyes and ears to grasp the immensity of what Gail had done for me with this acknowledgement, as I said, “Thank you” and gave her a hug right there in the Grand Buffet. I knew this was not only a gift of Love from Gail, but it was a gift of Love from God too.
Now, as I again unwrapped the present to describe it, in my writing, I’m experiencing the depth of love symbolized by this gift from my daughter. I have been fully acknowledged and empowered. Thank you, Gail; thank You, God.
Why This Movie?
It’s important for me to mention here that Gail took time for this acknowledgement of me in the midst of supporting her dad, and stepmother, through his death process, which has been a difficult time for all three. And it’s especially difficult for Gail to lift and care for him, due to her own physical pain from fibromyalgia and other physical problems which require surgery.
So, you can imagine my shock, as we were watching the movie we’d selected, “The Weatherman,” and discovered that it deals with the immanent death of the father, played by Michael Caine, and its affect on the son, played by Nicholas Cage. I asked Gail if she wanted to leave, but she said she was okay, and we stayed, even through the scenes of the funeral, which took place in heavy rain, like we have been having in Portland, lately.
The movie had many other facets, mostly relating to family life in the year 2005, with plots relating to the intense activities of the teen-age kids in these times. Gail found the language and other typical activities extremely funny, and laughed and laughed, which probably did her a world of good.
I can’t even remember the last time Gail and I went to a movie together, and since God always provides us both with experiential aides, as I call it, I have to assume that this was the appropriate movie for us to see together, and let it go at that. There are so few that I find entertaining these days, so I have to select the best of the worst.
Fulfillment of These Promises
The important part is that Gail and I spent time together in a loving and harmonious relationship, during the Love week, which is fulfillment of the following Promises of Recovery:

5. I know a new love and acceptance of myself and others. I feeling genuinely loveable, loving and loved.
6. I learn to see myself as equal to others. My new and renewed relationships are all with equal partners.
7. I am capable of developing and maintaining healthy and loving relationships. The need to control and manipulate others will disappear as I learn to trust those who are trustworthy.
8. I learn that it is possible for me to mend -- to become more loving, intimate and supportive. I have the choice of communicating with my family in a way which is safe for me and respectful for them.