Jenny's Pearls - Random Resource ThuRsday

Trusting God: Jenny’s Pearl Necklace

April 24, 2012 in Spirituality, Why Don't They Just Quit? Book Excerpts, Words of Wisdom byjherzanek | 2 comments

The story of “Jenny’s Pearl Necklace” touches everyone in a different way—as we are all at different stages of our journey . . . and trusting God.

Jenny’s Pearl Necklace
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

“Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!” Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them yourself.”

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor, Mrs. McJames, and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma gave her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace
.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel grown up. She wore them everywhere—Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when
he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?” “Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.”

“Then may I have your pearls?”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess—the white horse from my collection. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me.
She’s my favorite.”

“That’s okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?”

“Daddy, you know I love you.”

“Then will you give me your pearls?”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday.

“That’s okay, Honey. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

Several days later, when Jenny’s father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. “Here, Daddy,” she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father’s hand.
With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.

Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to be willing to give up things in our lives so he can give us beautiful treasure. God only wants you to have the best.

—Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Caution :: Yellow Light :: Y1 - Person of Risk

Today's post goes along with last Thursday about having to give up all our "friends" from before addiction recovery.  As the author wrote, the new life of recovery and the old friends turn out to be "like oil and water they just don't mix".

There is a way in recoveryBox to track that.  It's the Y1 Caution Light.  It's "Intentionally Put Self With Person of Risk".

There is something to note here..it's the word intentionally.  There are times in life when we bump into people from our life before addiction recovery and it's a coincidence (but ever notice that it's "awkward"?!?).

This is the situation where you purposely hung out with a person who was trouble.  Their ways are just not appropriate things that you would be doing to change your habits.  You know what I'm talking about.

You get the nervous feeling inside, your mind starts to ask questions of yourself about this person or the situation like 'should i be with her?' or 'what do i say is she asks to go party and get high.how do I get out of that?'.

Take this as a warning light!!  Oil and water don't mix!  Even if you did happen to be with such a person on purpose don't be afraid to record it in recoveryBox.  Your sponsor or accountability partner will want to know.  And because they have lived your life, they will not be upset.  This will give you the opportunity to see how your triggers and situations all came together so that you don't intentionally put yourself in that position again.  Recording it will allow the conversation to flow between you and your sponsor because it's all down in the app for both of you to see.

Be proud of yourself that you did not relapse.  Just like as with driving, it's just a warning that you could get yourself into trouble.  Just learn from it!

Download recoveryBox to get started on your road to Addiction Recovery.

recoveryBox and the Ratings

OK, yes I am going to ask that if you downloaded recoveryBox from the Apple App Store to use during your Addiction Recovery, that if you have a favorable review please post it so that others who are searching for help can also find it.

If you have a negative review, please email me at support@recoveryboxapp.com before posting it so that perhaps it's something I can easily fix.  Remember I am not a counselor, etc. I am just a person who has created recoveryBox to help others and others in addiction recovery.

Together, let's help others conquer their addictions.

How do I rate recoveryBox?

1. You can go to the iTunes store directly from this link.

2. Anytime you achieve a badge, under the frame there is a "Cool, rate this in the App Store".

3. You can get there from the More Tools in the App.

Choose More Tools -> Rate In the App Store

Then rate in the app store from this screen.  

recoveryBox Addiction Recovery iPhone app SUPPORT

Wondering how to get support from someone at recoveryBox?

• Have an idea you want to see incorporated into recoveryBox?
• Found a bug that you want fixed?
• Want to share a recoveryStory (and I'd love to share these if you allow it)
• Not sure how to use a feature in recoveryBox?
• Just want a word of encouragement?

Well, here are 5 ways.

1.  Email us at support@recoveryboxapp.com and we will try and get back to you the same day.

2.  Visit the recoveryBox website on the support/contact page

3.  Directly from the recoveryBox support in the APP.

Choose Moore Tools ->Support

Then Choose Email Support

4.  From Facebook 

5.  From Twitter

What?  You don't have recoveryBox?  

It's such an inexpensive tool to use during your recovery from an addiction.  Check it out!

Support Beyond an Accountability Partner - Twitter and Facebook Integration IS HERE

UPDATE:: It's HERE!!

 Facebook and Twitter integration with recoveryBox. We all know support and encouragement are a huge part of addiction recovery. Infact, I believe it goes well beyond the notion of an accountability partner.

Recovery is not going to be achieved by having "will power".  Good grief if that's all it took life would be so much easier wouldn't it?  No, recovery is going to be achieved by making life adjustments in how you think, what you do, who you interact with, what you think is important and more.  Being sober is not a quick and easy thing to achieve.  It takes work.

Part of your recovery system is going to include peers, allies, friends, family, therapy members, meeting members, counselors, sponsors, and in today's day even social networks.  We need to be encouraged and supported in order to maintain sobriety.  Interacting with such individuals will eventually bring us back into the community as a healthy individual who will be ready to give back.

The more I interact with Twitter and Facebook the more I realize there are others who want to support by offering information, words of encouragement and more.  The stigma of having an addiction is slowly being chipped away and I TRULY believe social media is part of that.  

I want to make something very clear.  If you are in recovery for an addiction, you are an "individual who has an addiction".  You are not an "addict".  Dealing with an addiction does NOT define who you are.  As a person you have so much more to offer and focusing on those talents and skills and purposes will be part of you.  Allowing others to love you is part of who you are.  Offering love back is part of who you are. 

With social media outlets, it's easy to connect with others who have the same battles.  And I also believe those who are reaching sobriety milestones want to celebrate.  

And so, coming very soon (the updates are in the app store awaiting approval) is the ability to tweet on Twitter or post on Facebook the accomplishments earned in recoveryBox for being Sober as well as sticking with a treatment plan (entering lights, texting a sponsor, creating goals, working the steps).  

Not everyone is at the stage in their recovery that they want to blast to the world about their addiction, but when you are ready to share, recoveryBox will be there to help.

Choose from Twitter or Facebook if running iOS6.

 iOS 5 users can Twitter to tweet their successes.

The badge you earned will appear in the Twitter screen as well as the accomplishment that defines the badge you earned.  

And below you see Twitter.  Pops up for all your followers to see and congratulate you.  The additional feature for Facebook is the ability to post to certain groups or individuals to give you more control as to who sees it.

I really want to see badges flying all around Twitter.  

Post away on Facebook.  

Make sure to find recoveryBoxApp on Twitter so I can follow and be part of your support system. 

"Like" the Facebook" page so you can join the system of support there.

~ Be Engaged In Your Recovery  ~ Be Accountable To Yourself & Others  ~ Be Rewarded For Your Hard Work  ~ Be Supported By Many Others

Random Resource ThuRsday ~ A Holiday Survival Story

Ran across this holiday survival story and I thought many could probably relate. It's from Sober Living's Website and the link will bring you there (great website..check it out).  Or you can read it here.

No More Ruined Holidays by Chris S. 

by slbts — last modified Dec 16, 2009 09:50 AM

Filed Under: 

• clean and sober holidays

Those of us who have lived through addiction and recovered will enjoy this passage from our staff member who really remembers what it is like to be a slave to addiction during the holidays.

     How many times has it been heard, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” Or, “You better be on your best behavior.” Only to let too much go on and you are arguing with someone in front of relatives, the kids and/or friends. Your argument is probably over something that isn't very important anyway. It's probably even an argument over something you don’t remember the next day (until someone reminds you about it). Maybe there's even a push and shove that goes too far and ends up in the tree or on the dining table. Maybe your struggle spills out on the front yard where the neighbors can see you. Maybe someone is so mad or embarrassed that they leave before the festivities had began. Some are crying in the background and others are taking up sides.
     It doesn’t have to be Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Years’ eve. I remember having a Tequila Easter playing monopoly. Don’t know who won or if we finished the game. But, the phone call the next day let me know I was not in the best behavior mode.
         Many people get busted for DUI’s during the holidays. It must make a person feel special when called to come bail someone out of jail on that special occasion.
        What about the false promises made that it won’t happen this year. The playing of the victim -  that it "wasn’t my fault." And the best move of all:  getting too wasted to even show up. Then the excuse of, “I am not hurting anyone but myself.”

Giving the Best Gift of All    

    One of the best presents I’ve seen people give others is getting help before the holidays. Giving the family, friends and loved ones the greatest joy of all. Being clean and sober for holidays present and future. Being able to keep a promise that you will be there. Maybe not this year, but next.

Many people get busted for DUI’s during the holidays. It must make a person feel special when called to come bail someone out of jail on that special occasion.

     Some of us are too selfish to think of others during certain days of the year. Thinking it might not happen if we are not present. It will still happen whether we are there or not.
     The greatest present I’ve been able to give others’ was the giving of myself. Clean and Sober.

www.recoveryBoxApp.com - the iPhone app for Addiction Recovery

recoveryBox Support and How To's

Wondering what type of support is available for recoveryBox users?

Go under the "More Tools" tab.

Feel free to Rate us in the App Store or even email about the app to a friend.  Email us directly for support and someone will get back to you ASAP.

But I think the most important option on that tab is the How-To's.  If you are stuck about a feature, this is the place that will tell you how to use it.  It's easy to see screen shots with lots of tips. Or you can visit the website for more tips and tricks.

Don't forget to check out this blog as there are weekly posts about how to better use recoveryBox during your addiction recovery.

Still don't have recoveryBox for your iPhone, Download it now.