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AA Thoughts For Today - April
AA Thought for the Day
April 1 Arch to Freedom This is the how and why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 62 Thought to Ponder . . . When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change. AA-related 'Alconym' G O D = Good Orderly Direction ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Prayer "In AA we have found that the actual good results of prayer are beyond question. They are matters of knowledge and experience. All those who have persisted have found strength not ordinarily their own. They have found wisdom beyond their usual capability. And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 104 As Bill Sees It, p. 127 Thought to Consider . . . Trying to pray is praying. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* PUSH Pray Until Something Happens *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Depression Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "If temperamentally we are on the depressive side, we are apt to be swamped with guilt and self-loathing. We wallow in this messy bog, often getting a misshapen and painful pleasure out of it. As we morbidly pursue this melancholy activity, we may sink to such a point of despair that nothing but oblivion looks possible as a solution. Here, of course, we have lost all perspective, and therefore all genuine humility. For this is pride in reverse. This is not a moral inventory at all; it is the very process by which the depressive has so often been led to the bottle and extinction." 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 45 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Despite the happy transcendence of the difficulties of yesterday and of today, we nevertheless deeply realize that our negative traits are still with us, and always will be. Therefore our constant responsibility should be that of taking a fearless inventory of our defects as we go along, the better to undertake their mending." AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1965 "Responsibility Is Our Theme" The Language of the Heart ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "How dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 8 Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.’s speak the language of the heart in all its power and simplicity. Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. xxiv With a proper display of honesty and morality, we’d stand a better chance of getting what we really wanted. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 72 Misc. AA Literature - Quote 'Courage and Prudence' When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado. Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved. 'Prudence is rational concern without worry.' 1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962 - 2. TWELVE CONCEPTS, P. 65 - TALK, 1966 Prayer For The Day - Lord, Help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that you and I together can't handle. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 2 Fundamental Idea of God Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as old as man himself. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 55 Thought to Ponder . . . People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about. AA-related 'Alconym' A R T = Always Remain Teachable. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Humility "Our AA program is spiritually centered. Most of us have found enough humility to believe in and depend upon God. We have found that humility by facing the fact that alcoholism is a fatal malady over which we are individually powerless." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, September 1945 The Language of the Heart, p. 7 Thought to Consider . . . Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* YET You'll End UpThere *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Powerless From "The Vicious Cycle": "When I finally got Hank on the telephone he fired me right then. This was when I really took my first good look at myself. My loneliness was worse than it had ever been before, for now even my own kind had turned against me. This time it really hurt, more than any hangover ever had. My brilliant agnosticism vanished, and I saw for the first time that those who really believed, or at least honestly tried to find a Power greater than themselves, were much more composed and contented than I had ever been, and they seemed to have a degree of happiness I had never known." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 228-29 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "For all the slow mornings, there are just as many when I arise with an open mind, willing to see what God has in store for me that day. Every chapter of self-pity ends when I am willing to abandon my pride and reach out to another alcoholic." Xian, China, October 1994 "Distilled Spirits," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~ "It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 153~ Even the chief architect, standing in the ruins of his dream, could laugh at himself – and that is the very acme of humility. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 149 Misc. AA Literature - Quote When I was tired and couldn't concentrate, I used to fall back on an affirmation toward life that took the form of simple walking and deep breathing. I sometimes told myself that I couldn't do even this--that I was too weak. But I learned that this was the point at which I could not give in without becoming still more depressed. So I would set myself a small stint. I would determine to walk a quarter of a mile. And I would concentrate by counting my breathing--say, six steps to each slow inhalation and four to each exhalation. Having done the quarter-mile, I found that I could go on, maybe a half-mile more. Then another half-mile, and maybe another. This was encouraging. The false sense of physical weakness would leave me (this feeling being so characteristic of depressions). The walking and especially the breathing were powerful affirmations toward life and living and away from failure and death. The counting represented a minimum discipline in concentration, to get some rest from the wear and tear of fear and guilt. LETTER, 1960 Prayer For The Day: Guide me Lord. You are my heart. You are my strength. You are my hope. Teach me Lord, and guide my way. I love You more each passing day. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 3 Reviewed Our Own Conduct We reviewed our own conduct over the years past. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, or inconsiderate? Whom had we hurt? Did we unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion or bitterness? Where were we at fault, what should we have done instead? We got this all down on paper and looked at it. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 69 Thought to Ponder . . . The first step in overcoming mistakes is to admit them. AA-related 'Alconym' A A = Accountable Actions ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Open Mind "To get sober and to stay sober, all you really need is a truly open mind. Just resign from the debating society and quit bothering yourself with such deep questions as whether it was the hen or the egg that came first. Again I say, all you need is the open mind." Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 26 Thought to Consider . . . Minds are like parachutes - they won't work unless they're open. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* ABC Acceptance, Belief, Change *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Publicity From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "Meanwhile, a great tide of public approval, stimulated by A.A.'s friends of press, radio, and in recent times television, began to sweep in upon us and it has never ceased. Each month a clipping service feeds our Headquarters scrapbooks with a very large amount of material. Writers constantly ask Headquarters to check their manuscripts. A.A. members are helped to appear anonymously on radio and TV programs. The making of arrangements for publicity has become a constantly increasing activity of our A.A. office. How many lives have been saved, how many years of misery have thus been averted for thousands of alcoholics and their families, only God knows." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 206-07 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "In AA ... I was once again able to hear the sounds of nature. I looked at a pine tree one day and began to cry at how beautiful it was. I learned to laugh again." Marina, California, October 1994 "Birches," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~ "An alcoholic in his cups is an unlovely creature." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 16~ For it is only by accepting and solving our problems that we can begin to get right with ourselves and with the world about us and with Him who presides over us all. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 125 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Atmosphere of Grace Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support. As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul. We all need the light of God's reality, the nourishment of His strength, and the atmosphere of His grace. To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this ageless truth. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 97-98 Prayer For The Day: A Prayer for Being Grateful - Lord God, may we be grateful for our lot, and compassionate toward all those who are suffering every kind of distress at this difficult time. May we hold back nothing, and hasten to be the ministers of prayer and mercy, like the disciples of Him who went about doing good in times of need. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 4 Insanity and Denial They are always "going on the wagon for keeps." They are over- remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision. There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He plans various ways of drinking. He changes his brand or his environment. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Doctor's Opinion) p. xxx Thought to Ponder . . . We are either working on recovery or we're working on a relapse. AA-related 'Alconym' D E N I A L = Don't Even Notice It's A Lie. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Sunlight "When the thought was expressed to me that there might be a God personal to me, I didn't like the idea. So my friend Ebby made what then seemed a novel suggestion. He said, 'Why don't you choose your own conception of God?' That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last." Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12 As Bill Sees It, p. 313 Thought to Consider . . . Joy isn't the absence of pain-- it's the presence of God. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* LET GO Leave Everything To God, Okay? *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Release From "On a Winter Day": "I knew I had to have a new beginning, and this beginning had to be here. I could not start anywhere else. I had to let go of the past and forget the future. As long as I held on to the past with one hand and grabbed at the future with the other hand, I had nothing to hold on to today with. So I had to begin here, now. "The next time I went back to my A.A. group, the "happy hypocrites" looked different to me. I began to see love in their eyes, a greater warmth than I had ever seen before. I mentioned it to my sponsor, and he said, 'The reason you see love in these people's eyes is because you are beginning to love them. The love that we see in their eyes is the reflection of our own love. We have got to love to be loved.'--Decatur, Georgia" 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 46 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I am responsible as a trusted servant to be informed -- my group expects and deserves that. That responsibility requires me to take action, to do some reading, and to find out what the principles say -- not what I think ... The beautiful thing about AA is that we don't have to reinvent the wheel. We have directions and guidelines that we can follow; they were hammered out on the anvil of experience by those who have gone before us." San Carlos, California, October 1994 "The Anvil of Experience," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Pg. 85 - Into Action "God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 133~ Prayer is the raising of the heart and mind to God – and in this sense it includes meditation. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 102 Misc. AA Literature - Quote ...In All Our Affairs The chief purpose of A.A. is sobriety. We all realize that without sobriety we have nothing. However, it is possible to expand this simple aim into a great deal of nonsense, so far as the individual member is concerned. Sometimes we hear him say, in effect, 'Sobriety is my sole responsibility. After all, I'm a pretty fine chap, except for my drinking. Give me sobriety, and I've got it made!' As long as our friend clings to this comfortable alibi, he will make so little progress with his real life problems and responsibilities that he stands in a fair way to get drunk again. This is why A.A.'s Twelfth Step urges that we 'practice these principles in all our affairs.' We are not living just to be sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to love. LETTER, 1966 Prayer For The Day: May all I do today begin with you, O Lord. Plant dreams and hopes within my soul and revive my tired spirit: be with me today. Be at my side and walk with me; be my support, that your hand may be seen in every action I take, that your goodness may be in every word I speak, and that your spirit may inhabit my every thought. Make my thoughts, my work, and my very life blessings for your kingdom. In Christ's name I pray, Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 5 Nonsense He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job—wife or no wife—we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 98 Thought to Ponder . . . In AA we don't carry the alcoholic; we carry the message. AA-related 'Alconym' F R O G = Fully Rely On God. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Virtues "We of AA are apt sometimes to brag of the virtues of our fellowship. Let us remember that none of these are earned virtues. We have been forced into them, to begin with, by the cruel lash of John Barleycorn. We have adopted these attitudes, these practices, this structure, not at first because we wished to but because we had to. But today I think we stand willing to conform permanently and gladly to the principles which experience, under the grace of God, has taught us." Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 224 Thought to Consider . . . Unless I accept my virtues, I will be overwhelmed with my faults. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* LET GO Leave Everything To God, Okay? *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Traditions From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "You will remember that episode back in our living room on Clinton Street. That was the time when my group told me I [Bill W.] could never become an A.A. professional. With nearly every Tradition much the same thing has happened. At first, I obeyed because I had to; I would have lost my standing in A.A. if I had not. After a while I began to obey because I saw that the Traditions were wise and right. While I conformed because it was right to do, I still resisted inwardly. "This was particularly true of anonymity. Today I hope I have come to a time in my A.A. life when I can obey because I really want to obey, because I really want the Traditions for myself as well as for A.A. as a whole." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 136 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "My basic flaw had always been dependence -- almost absolute dependence -- on people or circumstances to supply me with prestige, security, and the like. Failing to get these things according to my perfectionist dreams and specifications, I had fought for them. And when defeat came, so did my depression." AA Co-Founder, Bill W., January 1958 "The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety" The Language of the Heart ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 98~ "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 20 We become as open-minded to conviction and as willing to listen as the dying can be. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 24 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Spiritual Kindergarten We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect. Each man's theology has to be his own quest, his own affair. When the Big Book was being planned, some members thought that it ought to be Christian in the doctrinal sense. Others had no objection to the use of the word 'God,' but wanted to avoid doctrinal issues. Spirituality, yes. Religion, no. Still others wanted a psychological book, to lure the alcoholic in. Once in, he could take God or leave Him alone as he wished. To the rest of us this was shocking, but happily we listened. Our group conscience was at work to construct the most acceptable and effective book possible. Every voice was playing its appointed part. Our atheists and agnostics widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief. 1. LETTER, 1954 2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, PP. 162, 163, 167 Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I praise you for all of Your goodness to us as Your children. I am blessed to know You and to follow You. Lord, help me to make wise decisions in all the things that I daily face. Give me Your love for all that I meet. Lord, in all of my affairs, help me not to procrastinate in dealing with the responsibilities that are before me. I do need Your guidance to know the things that should be priorities in my life, as sometime I do not know what needs to be taken care of first. Help me, in all my daily activities at home and at the office, to demonstrate Your nature. I ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 6 Continue to Watch Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 84 Thought to Ponder . . . The 3 A’s -- Awareness, Acceptance, Action. AA-related 'Alconym' A A = Always Aware. *~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Working With Others "Life will take on a new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends-- this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 Thought to Consider . . . Service is spirituality in action. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* HELP Hope, Encouragement, Love and Patience *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Need From "An Open Heart": "Each day that I try to have a desire to be sober and to remember to keep an open heart, love and help flow into me. These bounties are unlimited in A.A. if we are fortunate enough to have the desire." 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 51 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "The good news is that anyone can become an old-timer if they're willing to be willing to change and follow some direction." Menifee, California, July 2011 "A Matter of Time," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "If there be divorce or separation, there should be no undue haste for the couple to get together. The man should be sure of his recovery. The wife should fully understand his new way of life. If their old relationship is to be resumed it must be on a better basis, since the former did not work. This means a new attitude and spirit all around. Sometimes it is to the best interests of all concerned that a couple remain apart. Obviously, no rule can be laid down. Let the alcoholic continue his program day by day. When the time for living together has come, it will be apparent to both parties." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 99~ " I had always believed in a Power greater that myself. I had often pondered these things. I was not an atheist. Few people really are, for that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes no where." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 10~ They do not drive by mandate; they lead by example. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 135 Misc. AA Literature - Quote When Defects Are Less than Deadly Practically everybody wishes to be rid of his most glaring and destructive handicaps. No one wants to be so proud that he is scorned as a braggart, nor so greedy that he is labeled a thief. No one wants to be angry enough to ruin his health. No one wants to be agonized by chronic envy or paralyzed by sloth. Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at these rock-bottom levels, and we who have escaped such extremes are apt to congratulate ourselves. Yet can we? After all, Hasn't it been self-interest that has enabled most of us to escape? Not much spiritual effort is involved in avoiding excesses which will bring us punishment anyway. But when we face up to the less violent aspects of these very same defects, where do we stand then? TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 66 Prayer For The Day: Lord, inspire me to give of my best and make good use of the talents you have given me. Show me how to be positive in attitude, appreciating and valuing others, always being ready to encourage and give praise. Sometimes I draw conclusions about people in terms of what I think is meant by “success” and “failure”, but the “failure” of one person might count as a great “success” of someone with other talents. Lead me never to judge people but to accept others as they are, knowing that it is together, each with our differences, that we build up your Kingdom. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 7 Moments of Triumph To conclude that others were wrong was as far as most of us ever got. The usual outcome was that people continued to wrong us and we stayed sore. Sometimes it was remorse and then we were sore at ourselves. But the more we fought and tried to have our own way, the worse matters got. As in war, the victor only seemed to win. Our moments of triumph were short-lived. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 66 Thought to Ponder . . . It takes strength and courage to admit the truth. AA-related 'Alconym' C H A N G E D = Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Each Day. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Fear "At heart we had all been abnormally fearful. It mattered little whether we had sat on the shore of life drinking ourselves into forgetfulness or had plunged in recklessly and willfully beyond our depth and ability. The result was the same - all of us had nearly perished in a sea of alcohol." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 123-4 Thought to Consider . . . I didn't make it all the way to the beach to drown in the sand. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* F E A R Fools Every Alcoholic Repeatedly. *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Choices From "The Family Afterward": "Many alcoholics are enthusiasts. They run to extremes. At the beginning of recovery a man will take, as a rule, one of two directions. He may either plunge into a frantic attempt to get on his feet in business, or he may be so enthralled by his new life that he talks or thinks of little else. In either case certain family problems will arise." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 126-26 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "May those who come to know the truth never forget it." Mulberry, Florida, June 2011 "This Wasted Life," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "We alcoholics are sensitive people. It takes some of us a long time to outgrow that serious handicap." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 125~ "At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 77~ For we had started to get perspective on ourselves, which is another way of saying that we were gaining in humility. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 48 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Self-Respect Through Sacrifice At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we made other sacrifices. We had to toss self-justification, self-pity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry state and quit blaming others for it. Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up what had really been our dearest possessions--our ambition and our illegitimate pride. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 287 Prayer For The Day: Lord God, you are my strength. Hold my hand in my weakness and teach my heart to fly. With you, there's nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. Hold me tight in your embrace, so that I can be stronger than the challenges in my life. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 8 Do Not Hesitate God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and in following his case afterward. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. 133 Thought to Ponder . . . Asking for help is a case of humility and not a cause for humiliation. AA-related 'Alconym' F R E E = Fortunately, Recovery Enhances Everything. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Change "Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for worse and changes for better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in AA as a whole, it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, July 1965 As Bill Sees It, p. 115 Thought to Consider . . . We're responsible for the effort - not the outcome. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* C H A N G E Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Everyday. *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Objectivity Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "They comfort the melancholy one by first showing him that his case is not strange or different, that his character defects are probably not more numerous or worse than those of anyone else in A.A. This the sponsor promptly proves by talking freely and easily, and without exhibitionism, about his own defects, past and present. This calm, yet realistic, stocktaking is immensely reassuring. The sponsor probably points out that the newcomer has some assets which can be noted along with his liabilities. This tends to clear away morbidity and encourage balance. As soon as he begins to be more objective, the newcomer can fearlessly, rather than fearfully, look at his own defects." 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 46 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Awareness is the most accessible doorway to spirituality." Emotional Sobriety II Ames, Iowa, July 2010 "Binge Thinker," Emotional Sobriety II: The Next Frontier ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. Pg. 33 - More About Alcoholism "We know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself: "I'm jittery and alone. I couldn't do that." But you can. You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power much greater than yourself. To duplicate, with such backing, what we have accomplished is only a matter of willingness, patience and labor." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 163~ Whenever our pencil falters, we can fortify and cheer ourselves by remembering what A.A. experience in this Step has meant to others. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 82 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Anger--Personal and Group Enemy 'As the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous' puts it, 'Resentment is the Number One offender,' It is a primary cause of relapses into drinking. How well we of A.A. know that for us 'To drink is eventually to go mad or die.' 'Much the same penalty overhangs every A.A. group. Given enough anger, both unity and purpose are lost. Given still more 'righteous' indignation, the group can disintegrate; it can actually die. This is why we avoid controversy. This is why we prescribe no punishments for any misbehavior, no matter how grievous. Indeed, no alcoholic can be deprived of his membership for any reason whatever. 'Punishment never heals. Only love can heal.' LETTER, 1966 Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, thank you for this day. Help me better myself and those around me. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 9 Receive Guidance We discover that we do receive guidance for our lives to just about the extent that we stop making demands upon God to give it to us on order and on our terms. Almost any experienced A.A. will tell how his affairs have taken remarkable and unexpected turns for the better as he tried to improve his conscious contact with God. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) pp. 104 - 105 Thought to Ponder . . . Relationships are built with communication; so we pray. AA-related 'Alconym' A S A P = Always Say A Prayer. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Vigilance "Now that we're in AA and sober, winning back the esteem of our friends and business associates, we find that we still need to exercise special vigilance. As an insurance against the dangers of big-shot-ism, we can often check ourselves by remembering that we are today sober only by the grace of God and that any success we may be having is far more His success than ours." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 92 As Bill Sees It, p. 19 Thought to Consider . . . "Vigilance will always be the price of survival." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, November 1960. The Language of the Heart, p. 317 *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* BUT Being Unconvinced Totally *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* ODAAT From "The Missing Link": "Exactly how was I supposed to not drink if my girlfriend breaks up with me, or if my best friend dies, or even through happy times like graduations, weddings, and birthdays. They suggested I could just stay sober one day at a time. They explained that it might be easier to set my sights on the twenty-four hours in front of me and to take on these other situations when and if they ever arrived. I decided to give sobriety a try, one day at a time, and I've done it that way ever since." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 286-87 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Success is more a state of heart and mind than a sum total of material assets." February 2007 "Change to Spare," Emotional Sobriety II: The Next Frontier ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 86 "Many doctors and psychiatrists agree with our conclusions. One of these men, staff member of a world-renowned hospital, recently made this statement to some of us: 'What you say about the general hopelessness of the average alcoholic's plight is, in my opinion, correct. As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help. Had you offered yourselves as patients at this hospital, I would not have taken you, if I had been able to avoid it. People like you are too heartbreaking. Though not a religious person, I have profound respect for the spiritual approach in such cases as yours. For most cases, there is virtually no other solution.'" ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~ To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all of us – this newfound peace is a priceless gift. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 74 Misc. AA Literature - Quote The 'Slipper' Needs Understanding 'Slips can often be charged to rebellion; some of us are more rebellious than others. Slips may be due to the illusion that one can be 'cured' of alcoholism. Slips can also be charged to carelessness and complacency. Many of us fail to ride out these periods sober. Things go fine for two or three years--then the member is seen no more. Some of us suffer extreme guilt because of vices or practices that we can't or won't let go of. Too little self-forgiveness and too little prayer--well, this combination adds up to slips. 'Then some of us are far more alcohol-damaged than others. Still others encounter a series of calamities and cannot seem to find the spiritual resources to meet them. There are those of us who are physically ill. Others are subject to more or less continuous exhaustion, anxiety, and depression. These conditions often play a part in slips--sometimes they are utterly controlling.' TALK, 1960 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, know with all thy heart that I love you and thank you for each day. Grant me mercy and forgive me when I am wrong. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 10 The Only Condition Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 98 Thought to Ponder . . . Who we are is not dependent upon someone else's opinion. AA-related 'Alconym' T R U S T = Try Really Using Step Three. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Earnestness "An alcoholic in his cups is an unlovely creature. Our struggles with them are variously strenuous, comic, and tragic. One poor chap committed suicide in my home. He could not, or would not, see our way of life. There is, however, a vast amount of fun about it all. I suppose some would be shocked at our seeming worldliness and levity. But just underneath there is deadly earnestness. Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish." Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 92 Thought to Consider.... Laughter is the sound effect of recovery. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* DEAD Drinking Ends All Dreams *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Message From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "Three blocks away from the main office we have a good-sized loft space where all shipping and mailing is done. This activity now runs into tons of material a month. Six busy lads spend full time at it. Last year they shipped about 40,000 books and hundreds of thousands of pamphlets, many of them newly designed and edited largely through the work of Ralph, our consultant on pamphlet literature. They mailed about 30,000 letters and bulletins and did huge quantities of mimeographing. [c. 1959]" 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 207 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Finally came April 1939. The book was done. Tales of recovery for its story section had been supplied by Dr. Bob and his Akron brethren. Others were supplied by New Yorkers, New Jerseyites. One came in from Cleveland and another from Maryland. Chapters had been read and discussed at meetings. I had thought myself the author of the text until I discovered I was just the umpire of the differences of opinion. After endless voting on a title for the new work we had decided to call it The Way Out. But inquiry by Fitz M., our Maryland alcoholic, at The Library of Congress disclosed the fact that 12 books already bore that title. Surely we couldn't make our book the 13th. So we named it Alcoholics Anonymous instead! Though we didn't know it, our movement then got its name -- a name which because of the implication of humility and modesty has given us our treasured spiritual principle of anonymity." AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1947 "Book Publication Proved Discouraging Venture" The Language of the Heart ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Thus was I convinced that God is concerned with us humans when we want Him enough. At long last I saw, I felt, I believed. Scales of pride and prejudice fell from my eyes. A new world came into view." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 12~ I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. -Alcoholics Anonymous p. 13 (Bill’s Story) Many of us also like the experience of an occasional retreat from the outside world where we can quiet down for an undisturbed day or so of self-overhaul and meditation. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 89 Misc. AA Literature - Quote The Forgotten Mountain When I was a child, I acquired some of the traits that had a lot to do with my insatiable craving for alcohol. I was brought up in a little town in Vermont, under the shadow of Mount Aeolus. An early recollection is that of looking up at this vast and mysterious mountain, wondering what it meant and whether I could ever climb that high. But I was presently distracted by my aunt who, as a fourth-birthday present, made me a plate of fudge. For the next thirty-five years I pursued the fudge of life and quite forgot about the mountain. When self-indulgence is less than ruinous, we have a milder word for it. We call it 'taking our comfort.' 1. A.A. COMES OF AGE, PP. 52-53BR>2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 67 Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, please protect me in my journey and light my way. Forgive me when I do wrong for I am trying. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 11 The Bedevilments We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn’t seem to be of real help to other people—was not a basic solution of these bedevilments more important than whether we should see newsreels of lunar flight? Of course it was. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 52 Thought to Ponder . . . If I always do what I've always done, I'll always get what I've always gotten. AA-related 'Alconym' A A = Answer Available. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Progress "We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas: (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 60 Thought to Consider . . . Every recovery from alcoholism began with one sober hour. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* BIG BOOK Believing In God Beats Our Old Knowledge *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Surrender From "God Is Good": "Before A.A., I could not, or would not, admit I was wrong. My pride would not let me. And yet I was ashamed of me. Caught in this conflict, I banished God from my life because I felt He asked me to adhere to a behavior pattern too high for a man of my human frailty. Somehow, I believed that there could be no forgiveness of any failure, that God required me to be all good. The moral of the story of the Prodigal Son eluded me. "Since I thought trying was not enough, I stopped trying. That made me feel guilty. For a while, alcohol blotted out the guilt. Then alcohol became the greatest cause of my guilt. I had to be beaten to a pulp physically, mentally and emotionally, become bankrupt in all facets of my being, before I could give up my pride and admit defeat. Unfortunately, admitting was not sufficient. My situation got worse until I had to surrender completely. From the depths of my hell, I called out, "Oh God, help," and He led me to a place where I could find a way out of the maze and then sent me a group of people to lead the way." 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg.86 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I cannot afford to take sobriety for granted ... I count my blessings and enjoy them all, large and small." Green Valley, Arizona, February 1978 "Summer of Discontent," Spiritual Awakenings II ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~ "We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 19 To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all of us – this newfound peace is a priceless gift. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 74 Misc. AA Literature - Quote 'The Spiritual Angel' How often do we sit in A.A. meetings and hear the speaker declare, 'But I haven't yet got the spiritual angle.' Prior to this statement, he has described a miracle of transformation which has occurred in him--not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his whole attitude toward life and the living of it. It is apparent to everyone else present that he has received a great gift, and that this gift is all out of proportion to anything that may be expected from simple A.A. participation. So we in the audience smile and say to ourselves, 'Well, that guy is just reeking with the spiritual angle--except that he doesn't seem to know it yet!' GRAPEVINE, JULY 1962 Prayer For The Day: Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can't handle. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 12 Human Failings Let's take a universally recognized list of major human failings—the Seven Deadly Sins of pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth. It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. For pride, leading to self-justification, and always spurred by conscious or unconscious fears, is the basic breeder of most human difficulties, the chief block to true progress. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 48 Thought to Ponder . . . Swallowing my pride will not get me drunk. AA-related 'Alconym' P R I D E = Pretty Ridiculous Individual Directing Everything. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Sharing "In spite of the great increase in the size and the span of this Fellowship, at its core it remains simple and personal. Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxii Thought to Consider . . . We need each other's experience, strength, and hope, regardless of age or length of sobriety. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* H O P E Help Open People's Eyes *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Money From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": An aide "quickly took the glowing report to his friend, Mr. Rockefeller, who we thought would surely be interested. Here was medicine, here was religion, and here was a great good work, all in one package. Mr. Rockefeller listened intently. He was tremendously impressed and said so. He has repeatedly stated that his connection with Alcoholics Anonymous is numbered among the finest and most moving experiences of his life. "Nevertheless, Mr. Rockefeller flatly turned down this plea for a large sum [$50,000], despite the fact that the project appealed to his every charitable inclination. After a rereading of [the aide's] report, he said 'I am afraid that money will spoil this thing.' When he gave his reasons, they were identical with those advanced by the Akron group's minority [at an earlier meeting]. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was guided then and there to save the A.A. fellowship from itself and from unnecessary hazards of money, property, and professionalism. It was one of the turning points in A.A.'s history. "[The aide then] described the desperate financial plight of Dr. Bob and myself. On hearing of this, Mr. Rockefeller said, 'I will place $5,000 for their use in the treasury of the Riverside Church [NYC, NY]. You may draw on this as you like. This will give these men some temporary assistance. But this fellowship should soon become self-supporting.'" An account by Bill W. of events which took place in December, 1937 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 150-51 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I am not my disease; I just have it." San Jose, California, December 2010 "Four Years," Emotional Sobriety II: The Next Frontier ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude. We all had to place recovery above everything, for without recovery we would have lost both home and business." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 143~ "Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!" Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 100 Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 75 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Healing Talk When we consult an A.A. friend, we should not be reluctant to remind him of our need for full privacy. Intimate communication is normally so free and easy among us that an A.A. adviser may sometimes forget when we expect him to remain silent. The protective sanctity of this most healing of human relations ought never be violated. Such privileged communications have priceless advantages. We find in them the perfect opportunity to be as honest as we know how to be. We do not have to think of the possibility of damage to other people, nor need we fear ridicule or condemnation. Here, too. we have the best possible chance of spotting self-deception. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, thank you for the love you have shown me. Help me carry that love to others so they may benefit from your love. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 13 Free of Anger For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 66 Thought to Ponder . . . Those who anger me, conquer me. AA-related 'Alconym' C A L M = Cause Anger Left Me. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Amends "Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure. Every AA has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing survey of the human wreckage he has left in his wake." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 77 As Bill Sees It, p. 145 Thought to Consider . . . We are as sick as our secrets. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* DENIAL Don't Even Notice I Am Lying *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Setback >From "Evidence of a Miracle": "Now I see how monumental my self-deception was. During that first thirteen years, my sobriety was not of the high quality it seemed to be. During the two years that followed, I actually convinced myself that it was a privilege to be able to drink. When I returned to A.A., its precepts seemed entirely new to me, particularly the meaning of the First Step, the 'atom bomb of the program.' Instead of taking the Steps and forgetting them, this time I began living them daily, finding new meaning in each one." 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 96 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I've been told to shake hands and have started doing so, even though it feels awkward ... I know one thing and one thing only: Today I'm sober and loved by members of my home group, even though I might not love myself yet." Waukesha, Wisconsin, March 2006 "Head Full of AA and a Belly Full of Beer," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "When working with a man and his family, you should take care not to participate in their quarrels. You may spoil your chance of being helpful if you do. But urge upon a man's family that he has been a very sick person and should be treated accordingly. You should warn against arousing resentment or jealousy. You should point out that his defects of character are not going to disappear over night. Show them that he has entered upon a period of growth. Ask them to remember, when they are impatient, the blessed fact of his sobriety." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 100~ "Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking What do I have to do?" It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 20~ During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 75 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Principle Before Expediency Most of us thought good character was desirable. Obviously, good character was something one needed to get on with the business of being self-satisfied. With a proper display of honesty and morality, we'd stand a better chance of getting what we really wanted. But whenever we had to choose between character and comfort, character-building was lost in the dust of our chase after what we thought was happiness. Seldom did we look at character-building as something desirable in itself. We never thought of making honesty, tolerance, and true love of man and God the daily basis of living. How to translate a right mental conviction into a right emotional result, and so into easy, happy, and good living, is the problem of life itself. 1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 71-72 2. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1958 Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, as I go out into the world guide me so that I may be helpful and understanding. Help me represent your grace and love so that others may understand. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 14 Priceless Assets Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. We heard story after story of how humility had brought strength out of weakness. In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) pp. 74 - 75 Thought to Ponder AA is not something we join; it's a way of life. AA-related 'Alconym' A R T = Always Remain Teachable. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Selfishness "Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt. So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 62 Thought to Consider . . . Spirituality is the ability to get our minds off ourselves. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* BUT Being Unconvinced Totally *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Health From "The Family Afterward": "A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative. We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. Hardly one of our crowd now shows any mark of dissipation. "But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 133 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Part of the magic of AA is that the Fellowship, like the loving God who presides over us all, never gives up hope for the suffering alcoholic." West Palm Beach, Fla., September 1986 "The Kid Who Came In from the Cold," In Our Own Words ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~ "If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism, He can solve your problems too." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Wives, Page 116~ And the facts seem to be these: The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we actually are. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 36 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Our New Employer We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing, we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow, or the hereafter. We were reborn. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 63 Prayer For The Day: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me the lighted way when my path was so very dark. Please continue to guide me with your light and be my hope in the darkness. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 15 Emotional Stability When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 116 Thought to Ponder . . . No God, no peace — know God, know peace. AA-related 'Alconym' F R O G = Fully Rely On God. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Intoxication "As newcomers, many of us have indulged in spiritual intoxication. Like a prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, we saw our pick strike gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds. The newcomer feels he has struck something better than gold. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product." Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 128-9 As Bill Sees It, p. 57 Thought to Consider . . . We give it away to keep it. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* T H I N K = The Happiness I Never Knew *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Excuses Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "The majority of A.A. members have suffered severely from self-justification during their drinking days. For most of us, self-justification was the maker of excuses; excuses, of course, for drinking, and for all kinds of crazy and damaging conduct. We had made the invention of alibis a fine art. We had to drink because times were hard or times were good. We had to drink because at home we were smothered with love or got none at all. We had to drink because at work we were great successes or dismal failures. We had to drink because our nation had won a war or lost a peace. And so it went, ad infinitum." 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 46-47 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Every day will bring me challenges, but now I have the spiritual tools to cope with life on life's terms. I am no longer the prisoner of my past, my wants, my sorrows, my addictions" October 2002 "On My Knees into the World Wide Web of Recovery," Spiritual Awakenings II ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are prepared for a long talk. We explain to our partner what we are about to do and why we have to do it. He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75 "Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventure before and after make clear three pertinent ideas: (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 60~ We A.A.‘s cannot pretend to offer full answers to age-old perplexities, but our own experience does provide certain answers that work for us. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 117 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Move Ahead To spend too much time on any one alcoholic is to deny some other an opportunity to live and be happy. One of our Fellowship failed entirely with his first half-dozen prospects. He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance. 'Our chief responsibility to the newcomer is an adequate presentation of the program. If he does nothing or argues, we do nothing but maintain our own sobriety. If he starts to move ahead, even a little, with an open mind, we then break our necks to help in every way we can.' 1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 96 2. LETTER, 1942 Prayer For The Day: Let me not forget you as I go forth into the world this day, blessed Lord; may my every word be a prayer, and my every act be testimony to your love and truth, and my I know your presence every second of this day. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 16 Enjoying Life We have been speaking to you of serious, sometimes tragic things. We have been dealing with alcohol in its worst aspect. But we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. 132 Thought to Ponder . . . Laughter is medicine for the sober spirit. AA-related 'Alconym' A L O H A = A Lot Of Happy Alcoholics. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Responsibility "I Am Responsible . . . When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible." Declaration of 30th Anniversary International Convention, 1965 Thought to Consider . . . Service is spirituality in action. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* EGO Easing God Out *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Healing From "Tightrope": "When I first came to this Fellowship, I had lost my health and sanity, my friends, much of my family, my self-respect, and my God. In the years since, all of these have been restored to me. I no longer have the sense of impending doom. I no longer wish for death or stare at myself in the mirror with loathing. I have come to terms with my Higher Power" 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 368 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I've found a life I never knew existed. I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude that there's no room for a bad day." Costa Mesa, Calif., December 1994 "He Gave Me the Shirt Off His Back," The Best of the Grapevine, Volume 3 ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "We families of Alcoholics Anonymous keep few skeletons in the closet. Everyone knows about the others' alcoholic troubles. This is a condition which, in ordinary life, would produce untold grief; there might be scandalous gossip, laughter at the expense of other people, and a tendency to take advantage of intimate information. Among us, these are rare occurrences. We do talk about each other a great deal, but we almost invariably temper such talk by a spirit of love and tolerance." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 125~ "I was to test my thinking by the new God-consciousness within. Common sense would thus become uncommon sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never was I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others. Then only might I expect to receive. But that would be in great measure." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, Page 13 Moreover, it is usually a fact that our behavior when drinking has aggravated the defects of others. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 78 Misc. AA Literature - Quote 'Perfect' Humility For myself, I try to seek out the truest definition of humility that I can. This will not be the perfect definition, because I shall always be imperfect. At this writing, I would choose one like this: 'Absolute humility would consist of a state of complete freedom from myself, freedom from all the claims that my defects of character now lay so heavily upon me. Perfect humility would be a full willingness, in all times and places, to find and to do the will of God.' When I meditate upon such a vision, I need not be dismayed because I shall never attain it, nor need I swell with presumption that one of these days its virtues shall all be mine. I only need to dwell on the vision itself, letting it grow and ever more fill my heart. This done, I can compare it with my last-taken personal inventory. Then I get a sane and healthy idea of where I stand on the highway to humility. I see that my journey toward God has scarce begun. As I thus get down to my right size and stature, my self-concern and importance become amusing. GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961 Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, how I love thee. Thank you for this day. Allow me to see the beauty and wonder that your loving hands have created. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 17 The Great Fact Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (A Vision For You) p. 164 Thought to Ponder . . . Trust God. Clean house. Help others. AA-related 'Alconym' P A U S E = Pay Attention, Use Step Eleven. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Rationalization "We 'constructively criticized' someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. We were depressed and complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom. Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and good living." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 94-5 Thought to Consider . . . A victim is a spectator in his life. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* FEAR Face Everything And Recover! *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Anonymity From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "The intense drive that most of us alcoholics have for money, prestige, and power then crashed into the open by way of broken anonymity at the public level. This development of the 1945-1950 period was made even more dangerous by the fact that most of the anonymity breakers meant well. Sometimes these folks wanted to use the A.A. name publicly in order to help other good causes. Sometimes they just wanted their names and pictures in the papers always, of course, to help A.A. [W]e saw that the risk to A.A. would be appalling if all our power-drivers finally got loose at the public level. Scores of them were already doing it. "So A.A. Headquarters got to work. We wrote remonstrances, kind ones, of course, to every breaker. We sent letters to nearly all press, radio, and publishing outlets, explaining why A.A.'s should not break their anonymity before the general public. Group feeling, combined with the Headquarters efforts, finally squeezed the anonymity breakers down to a mere handful within a few years. Had this tendency not been checked, the whole character of our society could have changed, and its future could have been fearfully compromised." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 209 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "If we dwell on the past or the future ... we stop changing." September 1974 "Awareness" AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85~ "Our hope is that when this chip of a book is launched on the world tide of alcoholism, defeated drinkers will seize upon it, to follow its suggestions. Many, we are sure, will rise to their feet and march on. They will approach still other sick ones and fellowships of Alcoholics Anonymous may spring up in each city and hamlet, havens for those who must find a way out." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, Page 153~ The book ”Alcoholics Anonymous” became the basic text of the Fellowship, and it still is. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 17 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Two Kinds of Pride The prideful righteousness of 'good people' may often be just as destructive as the glaring sins of those who are supposedly not so good. We loved to shout the damaging fact that millions of the 'good men of religion' were still killing one another off in the name of God. This all meant, of course, that we had substituted negative for positive thinking. After we came to A.A., we had to recognize that this trait had been an ego-feeding proposition. In belaboring the sins of some religious people, we could feel superior to all of them. Moreover, we could avoid looking at some of our own shortcomings. Self-righteousness, the very thing that we had contemptuously condemned in others, was our own besetting evil. This phony form of respectability was our undoing, so far as faith was concerned. But finally, driven to A.A., we learned better. 1. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 30 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, I ask for your help as I face today. Please help me and guide me so I may do the right things. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 18 Forgiveness We've repeatedly strained the patience of our best friends to a snapping point, and have brought out the very worst in those who didn't think much of us to begin with. In many instances we are really dealing with fellow sufferers, people whose woes we have increased. If we are now about to ask forgiveness for ourselves, why shouldn't we start out by forgiving them, one and all? - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 78 Thought to Ponder . . . Forgiveness is another word for letting go. AA-related 'Alconym' ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Right Living "Service gladly rendered, obligations squarely met, troubles well accepted or solved with God's help, the knowledge that at home or in the world outside we are partners in a common effort, the fact that in God's sight all human beings are important, the proof that love freely given brings a full return, the certainty that we are no longer isolated and alone in self-constructed prisons, the surety that we can fit and belong in God's scheme of things - these are the satisfactions of right living for which no pomp and circumstance, no heap of material possessions, could possibly be substitutes." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 124 As Bill Sees It, p. 254 Thought to Consider . . . "I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, Jan. 1958. The Language of the Heart, p. 238 *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* GIFT God Is Forever There *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Help From "Coincidence?": "Only a block or so from the pier, I saw a man approaching from the opposite direction, with his head down, walking into the rain. When he came to me, he stopped and smiled, and I recognized him as a priest I knew from home. I told him I was very ill. He then sat on a bench with me in the rain and assured me that in time all my troubles would pass and the day would come when I would understand them. He said I was not to do anything foolish, but ask God's help, and somehow everything would work out." 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 71 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Genuine simplicity for today is to be found, I think, in whatever principles, practices, and services can permanently insure our widespread harmony and effectiveness. Therefore it has been better to state our principles than to leave them vague; better to clarify their applications than to leave these unclear; better to organize our services than to leave them to hit-or-miss methods, or to none at all." AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1960 "Let's Keep It Simple -- But How?" The Language of the Heart ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164~ "Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk. Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 70~ Consider, too, our talents for procrastination, which is really sloth in five syllables. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 67 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Learn in Quiet In 1941, a news clipping was called to our attention by a New York member. In an obituary notice from a local paper, there appeared these words: 'God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words. With amazing speed the Serenity Prayer came into general use. In meditation, debate has no place. We rest quietly with the thoughts or prayers of spiritually centered people who understand, so that we may experience and learn. This is the state of being that so often discovers and deepens a conscious contact with God. 1. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 196 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 100-101 Prayer For The Day: Morning Light - For this new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends. For everything Thy goodness sends, We thank Thee, dearest Lord. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 19 Emotions The moment we ponder a twisted or broken relationship with another person, our emotions go on the defensive. To escape looking at the wrongs we have done another, we resentfully focus on the wrong he has done us. This is especially true if he has, in fact, behaved badly at all. Triumphantly we seize upon his misbehavior as the perfect excuse for minimizing or forgetting our own. Right here we need to fetch ourselves up sharply. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 78 Thought to Ponder . . . Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us. AA-related 'Alconym' J A D E = Justify, Argue, Defend, or Explain. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Obsession "The alcoholic has obsessions to an exaggerated degree. Over a period of time he has built up self-pity, resentments toward anyone or anything that interferes with his drinking. Dishonest thinking, prejudice, ego, antagonism toward anyone and everyone who dares to cross him, vanity and a critical attitude are character defects that gradually creep in and become a part of his life. Living with fear and tension inevitably results in wanting to ease that tension, which alcohol seems to do temporarily. It took me some time to realize that the Twelve Steps of AA were designed to help correct these defects of character and so help remove the obsession to drink." Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 380-1 Thought to Consider . . . "Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession." Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 139 *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* BS Before Sobriety *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Organizing From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "By the spring of 1938 a definite program of action took shape. It was agreed that we needed a tax-free charitable trust or foundation. Wealthy contributors could then deduct gifts from their tax returns. "The first move was to choose a name for the new outfit. After long discussion we decided to call it the Alcoholic Foundation. This seemed like a resounding title, one that could create an impression of large importance. Still swayed by big ideas, we thought our trusteeship ought to be chartered to do just about anything within the field of alcohol or alcoholism except lobby for Prohibition. We intended an arrangement by which we could research, educate, and do a lot of other things. Attention to our membership would be only one of many functions. "It was thought that the Board of Trustees should consist of alcoholics and nonalcoholics. The latter were always to be in the majority by a margin of one. This would assure our membership and other contributors that nonalcoholics would be holding the purse strings." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 151-52 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I am learning how to be a better son, brother, friend, and boyfriend. These things may not be a big deal for some, but they are completely foreign to me. What I found in AA was something I had been looking for my whole life, and I didn't even know it." Summer, Washington, April 2011 "Notes from an Alkie," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions. People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49 "Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. There is no friction among us over such matters." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 28~ Calm, thoughtful reflection upon personal relations can deepen our insight. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 80 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Freedom through Acceptance We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible job. The moment we were able to accept these facts fully, our release from the alcohol compulsion had begun. For most of us, this pair of acceptances had required a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with sheer will power; it came instead as the result of developing the willingness to accept these new facts of living. We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we began to be free. GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962 Prayer For The Day: Father, I belong to You. I place myself anew in Your hands and acknowledge You as Master and Lord of my life. Grant me the gift of a forgiving heart and cleanse me of any anger, hostility, or revenge. Heal my hurts and teach me to rely on Your love. Grant me wisdom of heart and strengthen me by Your grace to move on in faith, in trust, and in love. Thank You, Lord, for Your love in my life. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 20 Lose Our Fear More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 63 Thought to Ponder . . . Breathe in faith, breathe out fear. AA-related 'Alconym' F E A R = Face Everything And Rise. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Faith "In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning. That being so, you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself." Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 70-1 Thought to Consider . . . Faith isn't belief without proof; it's trust without reservation. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Balance From "Self-Pity": When we catch self-pity starting, we also can take action against it with instant bookkeeping. For every entry of misery on the debit side, we find a blessing we can mark on the credit side. What health we have, what illnesses we don't have, the sunny weather, a good meal a-coming, limbs intact, kindnesses shown and received, a sober 24 hours, a good hour's work, a good book to read, and many other items can be totaled up to outbalance the debit entries that cause self-pity. 1998 AAWS, Inc.; Living Sober, p. 58 ~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "To want nothing -- to know that we cannot make anything happen -- brings inner and outer joy, total fulfillment. The earth and the heavens and ourselves become one, and in this state of spontaneous surrender, we discover the deep, spiritual constancy in everyday living that we were looking for all along." September 1974 "Awareness," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~ "We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 85~ Third, all you really need is a truly open mind. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 26 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Trouble: Constructive or Destructive? There was a time when we ignored trouble, hoping it would go away. Or, in fear and in depression, we ran from it, but found it was still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed our destruction, unless they were altered. 'Then came A.A. Here we learned that trouble was really a fact of life for everybody--a fact that had to be understood and dealt with. Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could, under God's grace, be converted into unimagined blessings. 'Indeed, that was the essence of A.A. itself: trouble accepted, trouble squarely faced with calm courage, trouble lessened and often transcended. This was the A.A. story, and we became a part of it. Such demonstrations became our stock in trade for the next sufferer.' LETTER, 1966 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, help me to learn to really listen -- to You, to my family, to those around me, and to be sensitive to the "unspoken," for often it is in the "unspoken" that the needs of others are revealed. You are not only heard in a clap of thunder, or in the cry of a newborn infant, but also in the silence of a sunrise and the quiet desperation of an anguished heart. ... Help me to listen, that I may bring Your love and comfort to others. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may develop a "listening heart." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. © 2000 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 21 Anger Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows actually means. It will become more and more evident as we go forward that it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by people who, like us, are suffering from the pains of growing up. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 92 Thought to Ponder If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. AA-related 'Alconym' A A = Avoid Anger. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Prayer "Common sense would thus become uncommon sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never was I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others. Then only might I expect to receive. But that would be in great measure." Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 13 Thought to Consider . . . I listen for direction now. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* H O P E = Hang On, Pray Everyday *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Assistance From "To Employers": "This is not to say that all alcoholics are honest and upright when not drinking. Of course that isn't so, and such people often may impose on you. Seeing your attempt to understand and help, some men will try to take advantage of your kindness. If you are sure your man does not want to stop, he may as well be discharged, the sooner the better. You are not doing him a favor by keeping him on. Firing such an individual may prove a blessing to him. It may be just the jolt he needs." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 141 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "My need lay along spiritual lines, part of which consisted in helping others -- something startlingly new to me." March 1945 "Ways of Coming into AA," Spiritual Awakenings II ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He isn't." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 53~ I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 76~ We needn’t wallow in excessive remorse before those we have harmed, but amends at this level should always be forthright and generous. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 86 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Surveying the Past We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury. Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we should try hard to recall and review those past events which originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering our lives for the worse. 'We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people. By relieving these episodes and discussing them in strict confidence with somebody else, we can reduce their size and therefore their potency in the unconscious.' 1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 79-80 2. LETTER, 1957 Prayer For The Day: As I travel through the rest of my day, may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 22 Prayer and Meditation Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support. As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) p. 97 Thought to Ponder . . . Relationships are built with communication; so we pray. AA-related 'Alconym' A S A P = Always Say A Prayer. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Meditation "Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 105 As Bill Sees It, p. 117 Thought to Consider . . . Prayer is asking a question; meditation is listening to the answer. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* G R A C E Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Resentment Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "But in A.A. we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. We had to see that when we harbored grudges and planned revenge for such defeats, we were really beating ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it." 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 47 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I live in the Three Legacies of Unity, Recovery, and Service, and have gained 36 spiritual principles to help me through life one day at a time." Gig Harbor, Washington, April 2011 "Get in the Car," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~ "Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power that One is God. May you find Him now!" ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 58~ And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 97 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Complete Security? Upon entering A.A., the spectacle of years of waste threw us into panic. financial importance was no longer our principal aim; we now clamored for material security. Even when we were re-established in our business, terrible fears often continued to haunt us. This made us misers and penny-pinchers all over again. Complete financial security we must have--or else. We forgot that most alcoholics in A.A. have an earning power considerably above average; we forgot the immense good will of our brother A.A.'s who were only too eager to help us to better jobs when we deserved them; we forgot the actual or potential financial insecurity of every human being in the world. And, worst of all, we forgot God. In money matters we had faith only in ourselves, and not too much of that. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 120-121 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, thank you for this day. I ask that you give me strength and wisdom to deal with all things that happen today with intelligence and kindness. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 23 One Short Question We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 47 Thought to Ponder . . . I came; I came to; I came to believe. AA-related 'Alconym' G O D = Good Orderly Direction. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Gratitude "One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings and then for a right acceptance of the many gifts that are mine-- both temporal and spiritual. Here I try to achieve a state of joyful gratitude. When such a brand of gratitude is repeatedly affirmed and pondered, it can finally displace the natural tendency to congratulate myself on whatever progress I may have been enabled to make in certain areas of living. I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, March 1962 As Bill Sees It, p. 37 Thought to Consider . . . It's a pity we can't forget our troubles the same way we forget our blessings. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* GIFTS Getting It From The Steps *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Progress From "Gutter Bravado": "Still very impatient, I wanted the whole deal right away. That's why I related so well to the story about a wide-eyed new person and an oldtimer. When the newcomer approached the oldtimer, envying his accomplishments and many years of sobriety, the oldtimer slapped down his hand like a gavel and said, 'I'll trade you even! My thirty years to your thirty days right now!' He knew what the newcomer had yet to find out: that true happiness is found in the journey, not the destination." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 510-11 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Love mediates faith to others -- by caring what happens to them, by patience, by persistence, by humor." Rev. Samuel Shoemaker, Friend of AA, September 1948 "And So from My Heart I Say" AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164 "...we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 25~ We shall look for progress, not for perfection. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 91 Misc. AA Literature - Quote To Be Fair-Minded Too often, I think, we have deprecated and even derided projects of our friends in the field of alcoholism just because we do not always see eye to eye with them. We should very seriously ask ourselves how many alcoholics have gone on drinking simply because we have failed to cooperate in good spirit with these many agencies--whether they be good, bad, or indifferent. No alcoholic should go mad or die merely because he did not come straight to A.A. at the beginning. Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. This carries a top-priority rating. When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. 1. GRAPEVINE, JULY 1965 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 91 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, allow me to help others and show them kindness. Help me not to take things personally and show kindness even when I am not shown kindness in return. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 24 Central Fact The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 25 Thought to Ponder . . . I can't, God can, I'll ask Him to. AA-related 'Alconym' F R O G = Fully Rely On God. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Language of the Heart "As we better use the 'language of the heart,' our communications grow apace: already we find ourselves in a safe passage through all those barriers of distance and language, of social distinctions, nationality and creed, that so divide the world of our time." Bill W., AA Today, published on the occasion of AA's twenty-fifth anniversary. The Language of the Heart, pp. 309-10 Thought to Consider . . . I am responsible for carrying the message. I am not responsible for anyone receiving the message. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* HEART Healing Enjoying And Recovering Together *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Accountability From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "It was evident that here was a world-wide movement that had no direct access to its own principal service affairs. The Trustees had authority over our services; A.A. itself had no authority. The simple trusteeship had been the ideal guardian for our infancy and adolescence, but how in future years could it possibly go on functioning as it had? "At first we had talked vaguely about a hand-picked advisory council or an elected conference of some sort. But since there was no imminent danger, no action was taken. "Following a long plea for an elected A.A. conference and other reforms, and after having pointed out that the Trustees had all the authority there was, with no responsibility to anyone, even to Dr. Bob and me. "I set out on the road in 1948 to sound out among the groups the possibility of an elected conference to which the Board of Trustees could eventually become accountable. Bill W." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 210-11 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I look upon a pain in my feelings as temporary indigestion of the mind. When I get a stomach-ache, it is generally because I've eaten something that hasn't agreed with me. Likewise, my mental indigestion comes from some story, bit of gossip or circumstance that I've swallowed without thinking." Elmhurst, New York, March 1950 "Got a Pain in Your Feelings?," Emotional Sobriety II: The Next Frontier ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Do not be discouraged if your prospect does not respond at once. Search out another alcoholic and try again. You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer. We find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be happy." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 96 "We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Pg. 70~ We have gained some understanding of the ancient words “Freely ye have received, freely give. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 166 Misc. AA Literature - Quote No Personal Power 'At first, the remedy for my personal difficulties seemed so obvious that I could not imagine any alcoholic turning the proposition down were it properly presented to him. Believing so firmly that Christ can do anything, I had the unconscious conceit to suppose that He would do everything through me--right then and in the manner I chose. After six long months, I had to admit that not a soul had surely laid hold of the Mater--not excepting myself. 'This brought me to the good healthy realization that there were plenty of situations left in the world over which I had no personal power--that if I was so ready to admit that to be the case with alcohol, so I must make the same admission with respect to much else. I would have to be still and know that He, not I, was God.' LETTER, 1940 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, help me to search my heart today to see if I am really living what I say I believe. Give me the courage to look at the REAL me, and with Your help, the strength to change whatever separates me from You. Create within me such a love for You that I will not count the cost. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 25 Valuable Rewards While the purpose of making restitution to others is paramount, it is equally necessary that we extricate from an examination of our personal relations every bit of information about ourselves and our fundamental difficulties that we can. Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 80 Thought to Ponder . . . Thoroughness, we have found, will pay—and pay handsomely. AA-related 'Alconym' A C T I O N = Any Change To Improve Our Nature. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Self-restraint "Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious power-driven argument. The same goes for silent scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengefulness. We can neither think nor act to good purpose until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 91 Thought to Consider . . . The Seven T's - Take Time To Think The Thing Through. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* ACTION Any Change Toward Improving One's Nature *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Choices From "'Use Me'": "The voice that answered was calm and sweet beyond description. 'You have the strength. All you have to do is use it. I am here. I am with you. Use Me.' "I was born again that day. From that moment, the compulsion was lifted. In the eleven years since, I have found in sobriety what I was searching for in the bottle. I wanted peace; God gave me peace. I wanted acceptance; God accepted me. I wanted to be loved; God assured me that He loved me." 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 33 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "AA has given each and every one of its groups and members the inalienable right to be unerringly wrong, which has many times resulted in the liberty to be foolish, the sovereignty to self-destruct, and the self-determination to learn from mistakes." Bowling Green, Kentucky, April 2012 "Safe in the Storm," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "'There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation.'" ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Appendice II, Spiritual Experience, pg. 568~ "To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, Page 44~ Misc. AA Literature - Quote Essence of Growth Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for worse and changes for better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in A.A. as a whole, it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way. The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails. GRAPEVINE, JULY 1965 Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, I thank you for this day. I ask for forgiveness for any wrong that I may do. Help me in my journey today as I share your kindness and wisdom. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 26 Complete Defeat Who cares to admit complete defeat? Practically no one, of course. Every natural instinct cries out against the idea of personal powerlessness. It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped our minds into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of Providence can remove it from us. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step One) p. 21 Thought to Ponder . . . We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. AA-related 'Alconym' A A = Answer Available. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Expectations "My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. The higher my expectations of other people are, the lower is my serenity. I can watch my serenity level rise when I discard my expectations. But then my 'rights' try to move in, and they, too, can force my serenity level down. I have to discard my 'rights,' as well as my expectations, by asking myself, 'How important is it, really? How important is it compared to my serenity, my emotional sobriety?' And when I place more value on my serenity and sobriety than on anything else, I can maintain them at a higher level-- at least for the time being." Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition p. 452 Thought to Consider . . . Lower your standards and improve your program. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* GRACE Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Popular >From When A.A. Came of Age: At this point the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a series of pieces that ushered in a new period for Alcoholics Anonymous, the era of mass production of sobriety. Elrick B. Davis, a feature writer of deep understanding, was the author of a series of articles that were printed in the middle of the Plain Dealer's editorial page, and these were accompanied every two or three days by red-hot blasts from the editors themselves. In effect, the Plain Dealer was saying, Alcoholics Anonymous is good, and it works. Come and get it. The newspaper's switchboard was deluged. Day and night, the calls were relayed to [early members] Clarence and Dorothy and from them to members of their little group. 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 20 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Every day is not a bed of roses, but it is such a relief to know that no matter what life throws my way, I never have to do it alone. I can't wait to see what happens next." Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2011 "Thirsty Thursday," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don't waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity." Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 90 "We represent no particular faith or denomination. We are dealing only with general principles common to most denominations." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 93~ As the day goes on, we can pause where situations must be met and decisions made, and renew the simple request: ‘Thy will, not mine, be done.’ -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 103 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Each Man's Vision 'Beyond a Higher Power, as each of us may vision Him, A.A. must never, as a society, enter the field of dogma or theology. We can never become a religion in that sense, lest we kill usefulness by getting bogged down in theological contention.' 'The really amazing fact about A.A. is that all religions see in our program a resemblance to themselves. For example, Catholic theologians declare our Twelve Steps to be in exact accord with their Ignatian Exercises for Retreat, and though our book reeks of sin, sickness, and death, the Christian Science Monitor has often praised it editorially. 'Now, looking through Quaker eyes, you, too, see us favorably. What happy circumstances, these.' 1. LETTER, 1954 2. LETTER, 1950 Prayer For The Day: God our Father, with the gifts you have given to us we have responsibilities and duties. Lead us to do our best and act responsibly. Give us courage when we face difficulties. Inspire us to make our choices wisely, always remembering that there are consequences to what we choose to do. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 27 Our Troubles So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 62 Thought to Ponder . . . Let go and let God. AA-related 'Alconym' I S M = I, Self, Me. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Meetings "Sobriety and a plan for living that produces a personality change and a spiritual awakening are imperative. Through AA, many receive the needed change and awakening just by trying to live by AA principles and with AA people. We do this by going to many AA meetings with an open mind and a desire to live the good-feeling life without chemicals-- liquid or otherwise." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 459 Thought to Consider . . . Seven days without an AA meeting makes one weak. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* ABC Acceptance, Belief, Change *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Upkeep From Having Fun Yet: When my own house is in order, I find the different parts of my life are more manageable. Stripped from the guilt and remorse that cloaked my drinking years, I am free to assume my proper role in the universe, but this condition requires maintenance. I should stop and ask myself, Am I having fun yet? If I find answering that question difficult or painful, perhaps I'm taking myself too seriously and finding it difficult to admit that I've strayed from my practice of working the program to keep my house in order. 1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily Reflections, pg. 31 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "We cannot just keep chipping away at defects of character without developing something to replace them. Assets are the only item I can find to develop, and the Fourth Step seems to be the ideal way of monitoring where I am at with both assets and defects." Lincoln, Nebraska, November 1979 "Taking Stock," Step By Step ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends, this is an experience you must not miss." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~ "Faith without works is dead." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 76~ If our circumstances happened to be good, we no longer dreaded a change for the worse, for we had learned that these troubles could be turned into great values -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 122 Misc. AA Literature - Quote The Sense of Belonging Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God's will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 105 Prayer For The Day: Heavenly Father, thou hast made my life dear; forgive me if I have made dearer the things that I have put around it. Many days have been used for costly things that have faded and are laid aside. May I realize the meaning of days that have been lost. Make me more concerned for what I put in the days to come. Amen. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 28 A Daily Reprieve It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 85 Thought to Ponder We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. AA-related 'Alconym' A R T = Always Remain Teachable. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Arrogance "I am a firm believer in both guidance and prayer. But I am fully aware, and humble enough, I hope, to see there may be nothing infallible about my guidance. The minute I figure I have got a perfectly clear pipeline to God, I have become egotistical enough to get into real trouble. Nobody can cause more needless grief than a power-driver who thinks he has got it straight from God." Bill W., Letter, 1950 As Bill Sees It, p. 38 Thought to Consider . . . The smallest package in the world is an alcoholic all wrapped up in himself. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* ISM I Sponsor Myself *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Discovery From "Bill's Story": "At the hospital I was separated from alcohol for the last time. Treatment seemed wise, for I showed signs of delirium tremens. "There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then understood Him, to do with me as He would. I place myself unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch. I have not had a drink since." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 13 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "I can better understand when I learn to listen." September 2008 "The Fine Art of Listening," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "These men had found something brand new in life. Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves for others." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 159~ "The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, Page 30~ In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 183 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Prelude to the Program Few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have 'hit bottom,' for practicing A.A.'s Steps means the adoption of attitudes and actions that almost no alcoholic who is still drinking can dream of taking. The average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect--unless he has to do these things in order to stay alive himself. We know that the newcomer has to 'hit bottom'; otherwise, not much can happen. Because we are drunks who understand him, we can use at depth the nutcracker of the-obsession-plus-the-allergy as a tool of such power that it can shatter his ego. Only thus can he be convinced that on his own unaided resources he has little or no chance. 1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 24 2. A.A. TODAY, P. 8 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. Thank you for my family and friends. Please help me in showing them just how important they are to me. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 29 Step Three Prayer Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always." - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 63 Thought to Ponder . . . I can't do God's will my way. AA-related 'Alconym' T R U S T = Try Really Using Step Three. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Powerless "Who cares to admit complete defeat? Practically no one, of course. Every natural instinct cries out against the idea of personal powerlessness. No other kind of bankruptcy is like this one. Alcohol, the rapacious creditor, bleeds us of all self-sufficiency and all will to resist its demands. But upon entering AA we soon take quite another view of this absolute humiliation. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 21 Thought to Consider . . . "Admission of powerlessness is the first step in liberation." Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 5 *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* NEW Nothing Else Worked *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Defects Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "To avoid falling into confusion over the names these defects should be called, let's take a universally recognized list of major human failings the Seven Deadly Sins of pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth. It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. For pride, leading to self-justification, and always spurred by conscious or unconscious fears, is the basic breeder of most human difficulties, the chief block to true progress. Pride lures us into making demands upon ourselves or upon others which cannot be met without perverting or misusing our God-given instincts. When the satisfaction of our instincts for sex, security, and society becomes the sole object of our lives, then pride steps in to justify our excesses." 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 48-49 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* Reality nourishes and fulfills. July 2008 "Get Real," AA Grapevine ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85~ "We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, Page 46~ In fact, the effectiveness of the whole A.A. program will rest upon how well and earnestly we have tried to come to “a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 35 Misc. AA Literature - Quote On the Broad Highway 'I now realize that my former prejudice against clergymen was blind and wrong. They have kept alive through the centuries a faith which might have been extinguished entirely. They pointed out the road to me, but I did not even look up, I was so full of prejudice and self-concern. 'When I did open my eyes, it was because I had to. And the man who showed me the truth was a fellow sufferer and a layman. Through him, I saw at last, and I stepped from the abyss to solid ground, knowing at once that my feet were on the broad highway if I chose to walk.' LETTER, 1940 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, life seems so hard at times. Please be with me as I go through this day. Help me be strong and and give me the wisdom to handle each situation. |
AA Thought for the Day
April 30 The Impossible In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 101 Thought to Ponder . . . Sobriety without action is fantasy. AA-related 'Alconym' W O R K = What Our Recovery Knows. ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ Compromise "One qualification for a useful life is 'give-and-take,' the ability to compromise cheerfully. Compromise comes hard to us 'all-or-nothing' drunks. Nevertheless we must never lose sight of the fact that progress is nearly always characterized by a series of improving compromises. There are circumstances in which it is necessary to stick flat-footed to one's convictions. Deciding when to compromise and when not to compromise always calls for the most careful discrimination." Bill W., Twelve Concepts for World Service, pp. 39-40 As Bill Sees It, p. 59 Thought to Consider . . . Wisdom in its purest form is sometimes knowing what to overlook. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* BATH Behavior, Attitude, Thinking, and Habits *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Inspiration From "Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three": "I thought, I think I have the answer. Bill was very, very grateful that he had been released from this terrible thing and he had given God the credit for having done it, and he's so grateful about it he wants to tell other people about it. That sentence, 'The Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease, that I just want to keep telling people about it,' has been a sort of a golden text for the A.A. program and for me." 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 191 *~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~* I can choose to carry the weight of the world and my problems around on my shoulders, or I can turn them all over to my Higher Power and let her worry about them. Toronto, Ontario, May 1984 "Now I Have a Choice!," Spiritual Awakenings II ~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~* "In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry. In most cases it was found that our self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships,(including sex) were hurt or threatened." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 64~ "We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 75~ Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life, and it comes first. -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 159 Misc. AA Literature - Quote Word of Mouth 'In my view, there isn't the slightest objection to groups who wish to remain strictly anonymous, or to people who think they would not like their membership in A.A. known at all. That is their business, and this is a very natural reaction. 'However, most people find that anonymity to this degree is not necessary, or even desirable. Once one is fairly sober, and sure of this, there seems no reason for failing to talk about A.A. membership in the right places. This has a tendency to bring in other people. Word of mouth is one of our most important communications. 'So we should criticize neither the people who wish to remain silent, nor even the people who wish to talk too much about belonging to A.A., provided they do not do so at the public level and thus compromise our whole Society.' LETTER, 1962 Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, please help me be the inspiration in someone's day. Help me not to discourage but always encourage. |
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