In recovery, many of us have to learn the difference between caretaking and caregiving. Caretaking gets us into enough trouble that we learn to watch for the warning signs. Many recovering people identify caretaking this way: if we’re doing things for someone that he can do for himself, that’s a sign we’re overstepping.

Today, if I tend to fall into troublesome caretaking, I will watch my interactions with the people around me. Am I taking care of someone at work in an inappropriate way? Am I covering for someone, shielding him or her from consequences, taking over responsibilities, fearing a crisis on someone else’s behalf? Is it possible this person can handle more than I think? Today I will focus on my own responsibilities and entrust the people around me to God’s care.