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A Prayer & Some Thoughts - January
January 1
New Year's Prayer As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends. Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed. Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God's name each day. Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right. Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none. May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year. ~ Rev. Marcy Sheremetta ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Some of the rewards that have come to us as a result of our new way of living: We have found that we have got rid of any of our fears, resentments, inferiority complexes, negative points of view, self-centeredness, criticism of others, over-sensitiveness, inner conflicts, the habits of procrastination, undisciplined sex, wasting money, boredom, false perfectionism, jealousy, and envy of others. We are glad to be rid of our drinking, and we are also very glad to be rid of these other things. We can now go forward in the new way of life, as shown us by A.A. So ............ Am I ready to go forward in my new life? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Giving Up When someone tells us a riddle, we may give up if we don't know the answer. We give up because we are tired of trying to get it, or because we are eager to find out what it is. Giving up in other situations may be more difficult. We may need to give up eating something that isn't healthy for us. We may need to give up trying to win an argument. We may need to give up old clothes that we love which no longer fit us. When we don't want to give up, it may be because we have forgotten the knowledge, health, or peace of mind we gain by doing so. In each case, giving up means growth and going on with our lives. Giving up may mean many different things in different situations, but it does not mean doing nothing. It means doing what seems right for us and giving up the expectation that what happens will be exactly what we want. So I gain by giving up something that is harmful today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Faith To me, this means a belief in a Creator who is all power, justice, and love; a God who intends for me a purpose, a meaning, and a destiny to grow, however little and haltingly, toward His own likeness and image. Before the coming of faith I had lived as an alien in a cosmos that too often seemed both hostile and cruel. In it, there could be no inner security for me. As Bill Sees It Page 51 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "It's humbling to start fresh. It takes a lot of courage. But it can be reinvigorating. You just have to put your ego on a shelf & tell it to be quiet." ~ Jennifer Ritchie Payette |
January 2
Prayer for Acceptance Lord, Help me to accept the person that you made me to be, blessings, difficulties, and all. Help me to recognize the plans and purpose for my life and to know there is no purpose too big or too small in this world, as you are the one who gave it to me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Am I all get and no give? Do I go to meetings and always sit in the back row and let the others do all the work? Do I think it's enough just because I'm sober and can rest on my laurels? If so, I haven't gone very far in the program, nor am I getting nearly enough of what it has to offer. I will be a weak member until I get in there and help carry the load. I must eventually get off the bench and get into the game. I'm not just a spectator: I'm supposed to be one of the team. Do I go in there and carry the ball? So ............ Am I still on a "free ride" in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Moving Forward Time past is gone forever, and we can never go back to it. The only way to avoid repetitious failure is to move forward creatively. Each day is a new creation, and each day brings new lessons and opportunities. We build on what is past, but we do not need to repeat it. Moving forward involves risking what is unknown. The old, familiar rut, depressing as it is, is a known quantity. Moving out of it requires that we have courage and that we trust.To move on, we must act. Insights do not produce growth until they are accompanied by specific actions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spare Time None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. 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. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson |
January 3
Prayer for Those Who Struggle We pray for those who struggle. We pray for those who struggle at this time of huge uncertainty; for political leaders faced with unforeseen challenges, uncharted ways, difficult decisions, We pray for those who struggle. We pray for those in situations never before experienced. We pray for moms and dads who struggle with having children at home all day. It is difficult to find new activities; it is hard to stay creative. We pray for those who struggle, We pray for those whose day is radically different. We pray for those who must leave their usual workspace, for those breadwinners who must work at home. We pray for those who struggle. We pray for those who have lost their jobs We pray for those whose financial security has gone,, who have anxiety around paying rent or providing for family needs . We pray for those who struggle. We pray for those who have been affected by the Covid 19 virus. Those who are sick at home and those who have been hospitalized, in their suffering, and in their fear. Lord, please remind us that we are not alone. We thank You for standing with us, as we receive your strength to stand another day. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The A.A. way is the way of sobriety. A.A. is known everywhere as a method that has been successful with alcoholics. Doctors, psychiatrists, and the clergy have had some success. Some men and women have gotten sober all by themselves. We believe that A.A. is the most successful and happiest way to sobriety. And yet A.A. is, of course, not wholly successful. Some are unable to achieve sobriety and some slip back into alcoholism after they have had some measure of sobriety. So ............ Am I deeply grateful to have found A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Balance Seek balance. Balance emotions with reason. Combine detachment with doing our part. Balance giving with receiving. Alternate work with play, business with personal activities. Balance tending to our spiritual needs with tending to our other needs. Juggle responsibilities to others with responsibilities to ourselves. Balance caring about others with caring about ourselves. Whenever possible, let's be good to others, but be good to ourselves too. Some of us have to make up for lost time. I will strive for balance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Obsession We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 22 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt |
January 4
Helping Others Prayer Lord, I know that you have equipped me with knowledge, talent, and resources. I pray that I can use all that you have given to me to help others. I pray I will be generous with my time and what I have to offer to those in need, especially my family. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Before we decide to quit drinking, most of us have come up against a blank wall. We’d seen that we're beaten, that we have to quit. But we don't know which way to turn for help. There seems to be no door in that blank wall. A.A. opens the door that leads to sobriety. By encouraging us to honestly admit that we're alcoholics and to realize that we can't take even one drink, and by showing us which way to turn for help, A.A. opens the door in that blank wall. So ............ Have I gone through that door to sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Being Honest with Ourselves Our relationship with ourselves is the most important relationship we need to maintain. When we can tell ourselves how we feel, and accept our feelings, we can tell others. When we can accept what we want and need, we will be ready to have our wants and needs met. When we can accept what we think and believe, and accept what's important to us, we can relay this to others. When we learn to take ourselves seriously, others will too. When we learn to chuckle at ourselves, we will be ready to laugh with others. When we have learned to trust ourselves, we will be trustworthy and ready to trust. When we can be grateful for who we are, we will have achieved self-love. When we have achieved self-love and accepted our wants and needs, we will be ready to give and receive love. When we've learned to stand on our own two feet, we're ready to stand next to someone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tradition One "Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. Unity." "Does this mean," some will anxiously ask, "that in A.A. the individual doesn't count for much? Is he to be dominated by his group and swallowed up in it?" We may certainly answer this question with a loud "No!" We believe there isn't a fellowship on earth which lavishes more devoted care upon its individual members; surely there is none which more jealously guards the individual's right to think, talk, and act as he wishes. No A.A. can compel another to do anything; nobody can be punished or expelled. Our Twelve Steps to recovery are suggestions; the Twelve Traditions which guarantee A.A.'s unity contain not a single "Don't." They repeatedly say "We ought . . ." but never "You must!" Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 129 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes "You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." ~ Marcus Aurelius 'If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins' ~ Benjamin Franklin |
January 5
Prayer of Renewal Dear God, I pray for your encouragement to light my path today. I humbly ask for a renewal of hope within me. Forgive me for my times of doubt and for getting caught up in self pity. Lord, I pray for someone to help today. Put them before me and help me to make a difference in their life. I pray about my impatience and anxiety. Lord, calm me down: steady me. Please guide every step I take and every decision I must make today. Watch over me and keep me from harm. Amen. ~ C. L. Murphy 2015 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We have slips in A.A. It has been said these are not slips but premeditated drunks, because we have to think about taking a drink before we actually take one. The thought always comes before the act. It is suggested that people should always get in touch with an A.A. before taking that first drink. The failure to do so makes it probable that they had decided to take the drink anyway. And yet the thoughts that come before taking a drink are often largely subconscious. People usually don't know consciously what made them do it. Therefore, the common practice is to call these things slips. So ............ Am I on guard against wrong thinking? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Laughter Laughing with others is important. Learning to laugh at our own problems, however, is even more important. Since we will continue to live with situations that cause us all types of problems, we may as well learn to laugh at ourselves. Often with chronic illness, coordination changes. Reaction time may be slower. Sensitivity to cold, heat, or pain may be altered. It’s only logical that we will find ourselves in potentially embarrassing situations because of our bodies. Often, a hearty laugh at all the strange situations flung our way is just the thing to help us work through what is painful and difficult. Laughter is a gift we give to ourselves. We can carry it with us whenever we go, it will always be ours. I am headed in the right direction when I can laugh. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Loneliness to Solitude As the sober weeks go by, we can enjoy and treasure the few moments of solitude we are able to find in the rush and hurry of life today. When we cease to fear loneliness and begin to cherish and use our solitude to advantage, we have come a long way. We realize a little solitude is necessary to think and to try to work some of the Steps. In solitude, we take our inventories. In solitude, we admit to ourselves the exact nature of our wrongs. In solitude, our spirits seek that Power greater than we are; in solitude, we seek through prayer and meditation to be aware of God's will for us. Came to Believe Page 109 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "In my spiritual program today, I am free to reject, consider and have my own opinions in life. I do not simply have to agree with everything that is said, in this way I am discovering my value and self-esteem." ~ Leo Booth |
January 6
Morning Prayer God, thank you for the gift of family and friends. Holding them in my heart is one of the most precious things I can never get tired of. Bless everyone, for they deserve all the goodness You have given to me. If I may do something wrong today, please forgive me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Am I deeply grateful to A.A. for what it has done for me in regaining my sobriety and opening up an entirely new life for me? A.A. has made it possible for me to carry on other interests in business and in various other associations with people. It has made a full life possible for me. It would perhaps be wrong if all my activities were limited to A.A. work. It has made a well-rounded life possible for me in work, in play, and in hobbies of various kinds. But will I desert A.A. because of this? Will I accept a diploma and become a graduate of A.A.? So ............ Do I realize that I could have nothing worthwhile without A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Letting Go of Chaos Sometimes, unrest, fear, anger, or sadness may motivate us. These feelings are sometimes intended to compel action. But our best work emerges after these feelings have been replaced by peace. We will not accomplish our task any sooner, or any better, by performing it out of a sense of urgency, fear, anger, or sadness. Let go of unrest. Let peace fill the void. We do not have to forfeit our power, our God given personal power - or our peace - to do the work as we are called upon to do today. We will be given all the power we need to do what we are meant to do, when it is time. Let peace come first. Then proceed. The task will get done, naturally and on time. With the lack of stress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Describing Spiritual Principles Stress the spiritual feature freely. If the man be agnostic or atheist, make it emphatic that he does not have to agree with your conception of God. He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him. The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles. When dealing with such a person, you had better use everyday language to describe spiritual principles. There is no use arousing any prejudice he may have against certain theological terms and conceptions about which he may already be confused. Don't raise such issues, no matter what your own convictions are. Alcoholics Anonymous page 93 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” ~ William James |
January 7
Prayer to Restore Lord, Replace the tension within me with relaxation. Replace the turbulence within me with calm. Replace the anxiety within me with a quiet confidence. Replace the fear within me with a strong faith. Replace the bitterness within me with the sweetness. Replace the darkness within me with a glowing light. Replace the coldness within me with gentle warmth. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought There is some alcoholic thought, conscious or unconscious that comes before every slip. As long as we live, we must be on the lookout for such thoughts and guard against them. In fact, our A.A. training is mostly to prepare us, to make us ready to recognize such thoughts at once and to reject them at once. The slip comes when we allow such thoughts to remain in our minds, even before we actually go through the motions of lifting the glass to our lips. The A.A. program is largely one of mental training. So ............ How well is my mind prepared? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Faith What is faith? It is believing in possibilities. It is the ability to carry on with our plans or to be true to our work even though we feel discouraged or tired. It is staying active in relationships even when we receive little in return or when our friends aren't able to respond. If there were no doubt, there would be no need for faith. Faith is temporarily putting our doubts on the shelf and working toward our goals. Faith is trusting that help and support will be there for us even though they're not in view. It is looking at a map and choosing a new destination, getting on the road to go there, and trusting the marks on the map symbolize a real place that we will find. I will leave room for my doubts and discouragement, but I will not indulge them. I will choose to go with hope. I will give my energy to the better possibilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Page 26 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime.” ~ Lawrence G. Lovaski ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Note ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Today Is Orthodox Christmas Day Most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, in use today. This date works to be December 25 in the Julian calendar, which pre-dates the Gregorian calendar. For many Orthodox Christians, Christmas Day is not about presents, it is a time to heal the soul. It is also a time of peace and unity. |
January 8
Lord Help Me Today Lord, Just for today. Please give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought How seriously do I take my obligations to A.A.? Have I taken all the good I can get out of it and then let my obligations slide? Or do I constantly feel a deep debt of gratitude and a deep sense of loyalty to the whole A.A. movement? Am I not only grateful but also proud to be a part of such a wonderful fellowship, which is doing such marvelous work among alcoholics? Am I glad to be a part of the great work that A.A. is doing and do I feel a deep obligation to carry on that work at every opportunity? So ............ Do I still feel that I owe A.A. my loyalty and devotion? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Learning Spirituality The best way to learn a thing is to do it, practice it, demonstrate it, make it real in our lives. Spirituality needs to be experienced, not talked about. You cannot learn spirituality, get spirituality from a famous guru, read and acquire spirituality from a book--spirituality needs to be discovered in our lives. It needs to be found in body, sexuality, sweat, anger, morning exercise and kneeling in prayer and gratitude at the end of the day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Recapture Old Pleasures For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. But not so with us in those last days of heavy drinking. The old pleasures were gone. They were but memories. Never could we recapture the great moments of the past. There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle of control would enable us to do it. There was always one more attempt - and one more failure. The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker. Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did - then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen - Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand! Alcoholics Anonymous Page 151 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips." ~ Oliver Goldsmith |
January 9
To Serve Prayer God, Help us to use the gifts you give us for the people who need us. Help us to see their need and, inspired by you, reach beyond ourselves, beyond our institutions, to the very margins and bring all to you, the center. May all we do be in preparation to serve more fully. Send your Spirit to keep us aglow with the desire to serve others. ~ Author Unknown ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In A.A. alcoholics find a way to solve their personality problems. They do this by recovering three things. First, they recover their personal integrity. They pull themselves together. They get honest with themselves and with other people. They face themselves and their problems honestly, instead of running away. They take a personal inventory of themselves to see where they really stand. Then they face the facts instead of making excuses for themselves. So ............ Have I recovered my integrity? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Perfect Relationships We shouldn't seek perfect relationships in marriage or in other places in our lives. What we seek instead are real and honest connections. Perfection has a picture-book form, but it has no depth and no personality. This means that sometimes we will get upset with others, or they will get upset with us. We need a basic commitment to stay in the relationship dialogue, to continue returning to it as long as both people are willing to work on it. Working through crises is how a relationship grows from simply being an idea to having its unique reality. We will be frightened by the rough spots. We will wonder if there is something wrong with us or with the other person, or the relationship. We cannot escape such questions. To run from the difficulties cuts off the possibilities for growth. It is a frightening thing to become real, to come into consciousness. I will pray for courage to remain honest and faithful to real relationships through all crises. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Joy and Peace I have had my share of problems, heartaches, and disappointments, because that is life, but also I have known a great deal of joy and a peace that is the handmaiden of an inner freedom. I have a wealth of friends and, with my AA friends, an unusual quality of fellowship. For, to these people, I am truly related. First, through mutual pain and despair, and later through mutual objectives and newfound faith and hope. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 276 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “When you pray for anyone you tend to modify your personal attitude toward him.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale |
January 10
Prayer to Achieve Goals God, Thank you for waking me up this morning. Thank you Lord for giving me life and strength. Lord I ask for forgiveness of sin, all my mistakes I pray you have mercy. Help me to forgive others too. Draw me closer to you and nothing shall separate me from your love today. God help me to achieve all my goals and let them be in line with your plans. If there is an adjustment you would love me to make, God don’t hesitate to let me know so that I won’t waste my time chasing the wind. Let your will be done. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The length of time of our sobriety is not as important as its quality. A person who has been in A.A. for a number of years may not be in as good mental condition as a person who has only been in a few months. It is a great satisfaction to have been an A.A. member for a long time and we often mention it. It may sometimes help the newer members, because they may say to themselves, "If they can do it, I can do it." And yet the older members must realize that as long as they live, they are only one drink away from a drunk. So ............ What is the quality of my sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Self Acceptance We sometimes find it difficult to accept a compliment. We may feel we don't deserve such attention, and point out reasons why the compliment is untrue. When we act this way, we show a lack of love for ourselves. God teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet, before we can love anyone, we must believe we are worthy of the same love. We can stop hiding behind feelings of unworthiness. There's nothing stopping us but ourselves. Sometimes it takes courage to say thank you when we get a compliment. Let's exercise that courage, and each time we do, we'll find our self-love growing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. As Bill Sees It Page 115 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “I cannot change what I am unwilling to face.” ~ James Baldwin |
January 11
Prayer for Serenity & Peace Give me the patience to be compassionate and helpful toward others and myself, and to know when it is best to remain quiet. Give me the clarity to be grateful for all that I have, and to realize when I have something to give to others. Give me the capacity to love and forgive others, especially the ones who have wronged me. Give me the serenity to find happiness and peace in each day. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The way of A.A. is the way of fellowship. We have read a good deal about fellowship and yet it is such an important part of the A.A. program that it seems we cannot think too much about it. Human beings were not meant to live alone. A hermit's life is not a normal or natural one. We all need to be by ourselves at times, but we cannot really live without the companionship of others. Our natures demand it. Our lives depend largely upon it. The fellowship of A.A. seems to us to be the best in the world. So ............ Do I fully appreciate what the fellowship of A.A. means to me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Asking for Help One of the most absurd things we do to ourselves is not asking for the help we need from a friend, a family member, our God, or the appropriate resource. Whether what we need is information, encouragement, a hand, a word, a hug, someone who will listen, or a ride, we can ask. We can ask people for what we need from them. We can ask God for what we need from God. It is self-defeating to not ask for the help we need. We who are eager to help others can learn to allow ourselves to receive help. I will not be a victim, helplessly waiting to be rescued. I will make my request for help specific, to the point, and I will leave room for the person to choose whether or not to help me. I will not be a martyr any longer by refusing to get the help I deserve in life - the help that makes life simpler. We don't have to struggle through feelings and problems alone. It's okay to ask for help. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back."~ Thomas Sowell |
January 12
Ability to Speak Up Prayer Lord, I feel held back by my timidity and fear of what others think of me. In times when I should speak up, I remain silent. Help me to have confidence to be bold in saying what needs to be said. I ask that I have the courage to not let others talk over me. Please ease my fear that others will dislike me because of my words. Give me the wisdom to speak truthfully and sensitively. You are my source of boldness and strength. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We did not realize what real fellowship could be. A drinking fellowship has a fatal fault. It is not based on a firm foundation. Most of it is on the surface. It is based mostly on the desire to use your companions for your own pleasure, and using others is a false foundation. Drinking fellowship has been praised in song and story. The "cup that cheers" has become famous as a means of companionship. But we realize that the higher centers of our brains are dulled by alcohol and such fellowship cannot be on the highest plane. It is at best only a substitute. So ............ Do I see my drinking fellowship in its proper light? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Empowerment You can think. You can make good decisions. You can make choices that are right for you. Yes, we all make mistakes from time to time. But we are not mistakes. We can make a new decision that takes new information into account. We can change our mind from time to time. That's our right too. We don't have to be intellectuals to make good choices. Other people can think too. And that means we no longer have to feel responsible for other people's decisions. That also means we are responsible for our choices. We can reach out to others for feedback. We can ask for information. We can take opinions into account. But it is our task to make our own decisions. I will treasure the gift of my mind. I will do my own thinking, make my own choices, and value my opinions. I will be open to what others think, but I will take responsibility for myself. I will ask for and trust that the Divine Wisdom is guiding me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fear of Rejection Almost without exception, my AA friends admitted that they had struggled with the same feelings. Some claimed that their fear of rejection stemmed from a lack of self-worth; some of the men laid the difficulty to feelings of inadequacy stimulated by years of drinking. It was also asserted that we couldn't stand the responsibility of being loved and so sought rejection in subtle ways. About the only thing that everyone agreed upon completely was that this problem, like our drinking problem, had a spiritual solution. The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1] Page 16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Most fears of rejection rest on the desire for approval from other people. Don't base your self-esteem on their opinions.” ~ Harvey Mackay |
January 14
Not Judging Others Prayer Lord, I have come to You for help. I am struggling with judging others. Teach me how to pray for others when I realize they are struggling instead of judging them. Help me to have a heart that shows compassion and mercy to people who are hurting. I pray You would bless those whom I have judged and that Your grace would be real to them. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Some Doctors think of the A.A. fellowship as group therapy. This is a very narrow conception of the depth of the A.A. fellowship. Looking at it purely as a means of acquiring and holding sobriety, it is right as far as it goes. But it doesn't go far enough. Group therapy is directed toward the help that the individual receives from it. It is essentially selfish. It is using the companionship of other alcoholics only in order to stay sober ourselves. But this is only the beginning of real A.A. fellowship. So ............ Do I deeply feel the true A.A. fellowship? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Trouble We naturally wish to avoid pain and difficulty, but life experience and a measure of reflection show us that most of what comes our way is beyond our control. When we use trouble as our teacher, we develop the art of living. We are taking a spiritual approach, using our God as our guide. We can choose today to use our difficulties for our learning and growth. We might ask, "What can I learn from this experience about myself as a man? How can I use this to strengthen myself for the future?" Serenity develops, not by eliminating life's difficulties, but by having a reliable relationship with our Higher Power in the midst of it all. I will try and use whatever comes my way as an opportunity for growth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Misery 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 Page 153 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex." ~ Norman Vincent Peale |
January 14
Encouraging Friends Prayer Dear Lord, I pray for my friends right now. I pray that you will help them with the struggles they are going through in this season. For you know exactly what they need at this moment. Draw near to them and let them feel your presence. Open their eyes, ears, and hearts to you. Help them have the discernment to hear your voice as you lead them in their next steps. Speak to them as they read your word and bring verses of encouragement and comfort to their attention. I pray that you will calm any fear or anxiety they may be feeling. Replace it with confidence. I pray that your guidance will be clear to them from this day forward. Amen. ~ Carrie Lowrance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought This sober world is a pleasant place for an alcoholic to live in. Once you've gotten out of your alcoholic fog, you find that the world looks good. You find real friends in A.A. You get a job. You feel good in the morning. You eat a good breakfast and you do a good day's work at home or outside. And your family loves you and welcomes you because you're sober. So ............ Am I convinced that this sober world is a pleasant place for an alcoholic to live in? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation God's Will Each day, ask God what God wants us to do today; then ask God to help. A simple request, but so profound and far reaching it can take us anywhere we need to go. Listen: all that we want, all that we need, all the answers, all the help, all the good, all the love, all the healing, all the wisdom, all the fulfillment of desire is embodied in this simple request. We need to say no more than Thank You. This Plan that has been made for us is not one of deprivation. It is one of fullness, joy, and abundance. Walk into it. See for yourself. I will ask God to show me what God wants me to do for this day, and then ask for help to do that. I will trust that is sufficient to take me into light and joy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Page xxii ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Love consists in sharing what one has and what one is with those one loves. Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words." ~ Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) |
January 15
For Courage to Do Justice Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others Open my ears that I may hear their cries; Open my heart so that they need not be without succor**; Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, And use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. ~ Alan Paton **succor --- give assistance or aid to ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Do I realize that I do not know how much time I have left? It may be later than I think. Am I going to do the things that I know I should do before my time runs out? By the way, what is my purpose for the rest of my life? Do I realize all I have to make up for in my past wasted life? Do I know that I am living on borrowed time and that I would not have even this much time left without A.A. and the grace of God? So ............ Am I going to make what time I have left count for A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Living In The Present How easily our minds jump from the present to the failings of the past or our fears about the future. We need to practice, with diligence, returning our minds to whatever the experience is at hand. A truly creative response to any situation can only be made when we are giving it our undivided attention. All we have of life, all that it can offer us is here, now. If we close our mind to the present, this present, we'll only continue to do so when the tomorrow we dream of now becomes the present. I need to let go of the past and the future. My only reality is here, now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spiritual Beliefs We, who have traveled this dubious path, beg you to lay aside prejudice, even against organized religion. 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. Actually, we used to have no reasonable conception whatever. We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves. ~ Author Unknown ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." ~ Herbert Spencer |
January 16
Prayer for Releasing the Past Lord, my past is trying to consume my present. I am constantly reminded of it. It replays in my mind daily, like a broken record. All the hurt, all the pain and all the suffering: I release it! Every grudge, the uneasy thoughts and all the negativity, I rebuke it! All the fear, all the doubt and lack of faith, I curse it out! Every chain that binds me to my past shall be broken and I am set free. Amen! ~ Cheryce Rampersad ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The way of A.A. is the way of service. Without that, it would not work. We have been "on the wagon" and hated it. We have taken the pledge and waited for the time to be up with impatience. We have tried in all manner of ways to help ourselves. But not until we begin to help other people do we get full relief. It is an axiom that the A.A. program has to be given away in order to be kept. A river flows into the Dead Sea and stops. A river flows into a clear pool and flows out again. We get and then we give. If we do not give, we do not keep. So ............ Have I given up all ideas of holding A.A. for myself alone? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Interaction with Others Sharing coffee with a friend or playing a game of golf with him provides a little relaxation, a little fun, and a chance to catch up on each other's lives. Such things are the meetings of life. These are relationships with other lives based on sharing time with one another. Meetings - this sharing of time - can be with the full range of our existence. A tree, a lake, a mountain, the stars meet with us in solitude and enlarge our lives. Meeting is more than driving by. We meet a neighbor, a person walking down the sidewalk, a driver in the next car. Each meeting inspires different responses in us. With some, we may be open and receiving; with others, fearful; and yet with others, we want to exploit and use. If all life is meeting, perhaps I do not wish to meet in the way I have been. The way I meet others changes me. Maybe I am missing something. I can have more life by making more contact. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Desire 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. Came to Believe page 51 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” ~ Edward John Phelps |
January 17
Let Go of Pride Prayer Dear Lord, I want to believe I am not a prideful person…but the truth is I still wrestle with pride. Please help me to let go of pride. I pray for a humble heart. I pray I would not see myself as better than anyone. I pray I would not hinder others from helping just so I can receive praise for doing it all myself. I pray I would not let pride motivate me to argue with others. Instead I pray humility would lead me. I pray love would be my motivation not pride. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Service to others makes the world a good place. Civilization would cease if all of us were always and only for ourselves. We alcoholics have a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the world. We have a common problem. We find a common answer. We are uniquely equipped to help others with the same problem. What a wonderful world it would be if everybody took his own greatest problem and found the answer to it and spent the rest of his life helping others with the same problem in his spare time. Soon we would have the right kind of a world. So ............ Do I appreciate my unique opportunity to be of service? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Feelings It's okay to have and feel our feelings - all of them. Many of us needed to shut down the emotional part of ourselves to survive certain situations. We shut down the part of us that feels anger, sadness, fear, joy, and love. We may have turned off our sexual or sensual feelings too. Many of us lived in systems with people who refused to tolerate our emotions. We were shamed or reprimanded for expressing feelings, usually by people who were taught to repress their own. It is okay now for us to acknowledge and accept our emotions. We don't need to allow our emotions to control us; neither do we need to allow our emotions to control us; neither do we need to rigidly repress our feelings. Our emotional center is a valuable part of us. It's connected to our physical well being, our thinking, and our spirituality. Our feelings are also connected to that great gift, instinct. They enable us to give and receive love. We are neither weak nor deficient in indulging in our feelings. It means we're becoming healthy and whole. I will allow myself to recognize and accept whatever feelings pass through me. Without shame, I will tune in to the emotional part of myself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pride Some see pride as just a minor issue. I see pride, and resistance to change, as the deadliest character flaw every alcoholic deals with on a daily basis. The only answer I've ever found in dealing with such a high level of denial, is written about in the Big Book, and can be found in action at just about any AA meeting in the world. From: The AA Grapevine, April 2014 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. " ~ C.S. Lewis |
January 18
Serenity Prayer (Full Version) God, grant me the Serenity To accept the things, I cannot change... Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will. That I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. ~ Reinhold Niebuhr (Research suggests that Niebuhr wrote the prayer as part of a sermon he was giving) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought What am I going to do today for A.A.? Is there someone I should call up on the telephone or someone I should go to see? Is there a letter I should write? Is there an opportunity somewhere to advance the work of A.A., which I have been putting off, or neglecting? If so, will I do it today? Will I be done with procrastination and do what I have to do today? Tomorrow may be too late. How do I know there will be a tomorrow for me? How about getting out of my easy chair and getting going? So ............ Do I feel that A.A. depends partly on me today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Feelings and Surrender Surrender is not something we can do in our heads. It is not something we can force or control by willpower. It is a highly personal and spiritual experience. Acceptance, or surrender, is not a tidy package. Often, it is full of hard feelings - anger, rage, and sadness, followed by release and relief. As we surrender, we experience our frustration and anger at God, at other people, at ourselves, and at life. Then we come to the core of the pain and sadness, the heavy emotional burden inside that must come out before we can feel good. Often, these emotions are connected to healing and release at a deep level. Our fear and anxiety about the future are released when we surrender. Surrender is the process that allows us to move forward. It is how our Higher Power moves us forward. Trust in the rightness of timing, and the freedom at the other end, as you struggle humanly through this spiritual experience. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A New Attitude And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. 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 Pages 84-85 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote 'The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” ~ James Allen |
January 19
Prayer When Confused Lord, I desire to be clear-minded in a time when deceit and deception floods into my minds from so many quarters, and so I pray that you endow me with your wisdom, so that I may not be tossed about by the many winds of challenges and troubles of the world that can cause confusion, and distort the truth. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The way of faith is, of course, not confined to A.A. It is for everybody who really wants to live. But many people can go through life without much of it. Many are doing so, to their own sorrow. The world is full of lack of faith. Many people have lost confidence in any meaning in the universe. Many are wondering if it has any meaning at all. Many are at loose ends. Life has no goal for many. They are strangers in the land. They are not at home. But for us in A.A., the way of faith is the way of life. We have proved by our past lives that we could not live without it. So ............ Do I think I could live happily without faith? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Volunteering The most precious time we will ever have we give away by doing volunteer chores to help others get more out of life. There is no material wage for this kind of work, but a host of emotional rewards. What great humility this can bring to us, who live in a world where selfish people often insist on credit for all their deeds - often things they had nothing to do with. All we need to do is think of all we have received without deserving it or asking for it. By taking part in the giving end of life, we find the true wealth of our own generosity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fear For all its usual destructiveness, we have found that fear can be the starting point for better things. Fear can be a stepping-stone to prudence and to a decent respect for others. It can point the path to justice, as well as to hate. And the more we have respect and justice, the more we shall begin to find the love which can suffer much, and yet be freely given. So fear need not always be destructive, because the lessons of its consequences can lead us to positive values. ~ Bill W. The Language of the Heart, April 2014 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "What goes around comes around. I will look for the opportunities to be kind and feel the results." ~ Karen Casey |
January 20
Prayer for Emotional Pain Lord, I come to You today with distress and sadness in my soul.I feel darkness today like an oppressing cloud. I am exhausted and weary beyond belief. Lord, I feel like You’re a thousand miles away! I feel helpless and my mind is in turmoil. I feel like I’m falling beneath the weight of everything. Lord, I come to You for refuge, please keep me safe. When I am troubled by anxiety and fear, help me remember that You will guard me. Bend down and listen to my plea for comfort and free me from this pain. I cry out to You in my distress. Lord, I trust in You for protection from these fiery darts of pain and grief and hurt. Lord, I know You hear my weeping. I thank You that You have heard my plea and that You will answer my prayer. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Strength comes from honestly telling your own experiences with drinking. In religion, they call it confession. We call it witnessing or sharing. You give a personal witness, you share your past experiences, the troubles you got into, the hospitals, the jails, the break-up of your home, the money wasted, the debts, and all the foolish things you did when you were drinking. This personal witness lets out the things you had kept hidden, brings them out into the open, and you find release and strength. So............ Am I receiving strength from my personal witnessing? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Change & Security The specter of change builds dread in most of us. We fear the effects on our personal lives. We lack faith that the impending change will benefit us. We long for permanence, believing it guarantees security, not realizing the only real security available to us comes with our trust in God, from whom all change comes as a blessing on the growth we've attained. If we were to experience total lack of change, we'd find death. Life is a challenge, continued change, always endurable and growth enhancing. We can reflect on what's gone before, and trust that which faces us now. Changes are gifts. Change means I am progressing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unlimited Choice Any number of alcoholics are bedeviled by the dire conviction that if they ever go near A.A. they will be pressured to conform to some particular brand of faith or theology. They just don't realize that faith is never an imperative for A.A. membership. that sobriety can be achieved with an easily acceptable minimum of it, and that our concepts of a Higher Power and God--as we understand Him--afford everyone a nearly unlimited choice of spiritual belief and action. As Bill Sees It Page 201 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” ~ William James |
January 21
Prayer to Accept Change Lord, I don’t like change. I like newness, excitement and adventure; but, when it’s all said and done, I love to come home to the predictable and manageable—to my favorite chair and comfortable routines. So I need fresh grace to accept change, because there’s so much change going on everywhere I look. Lord, I ask that your wisdom direct me to my guest for change. Help me to feel confident in the direction and make your will recognizable. Help me to have no doubt or confusion on the path I am choosing. Amend ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The identification that one alcoholic has with another is mysterious, spiritual--almost incomprehensible. But it is there. I "feel" it. Today I feel that I can help people and that they can help me. It is a new and exciting feeling for me to care for someone; to care what they are feeling, hoping for, praying for; to know their sadness, joy, horror, sorrow, grief; to want to share those feelings so that someone can have relief. I never knew how to do this--or how to try. I never even cared. So ............ The Fellowship of A.A., and God, are teaching me how to care about others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Accepting Change The winds of change blow through our life, sometimes gently, sometimes like a tropical storm. Yes, we have resting places - time to adjust to another level of living, time to get our balance, time to enjoy the rewards. We have time to catch our breath. But change is inevitable, and desirable. Sometimes, when the winds of change begin to rustle, we are not certain the change is for the better. We may call it stress or a temporary condition, certain well to be restored to normal. Sometimes, we resist. We tuck our head down and buck the wind, hoping that things will quickly calm down, get back to the way things were. Is it possible we're being prepared for a new normal? Change will sweep through our life, as needed, to take us where we're going. We can trust that our Higher Power has a plan in mind, even when we don't know where the changes are leading. We can trust that the change-taking place is good. The wind will take us where we need to go. I will trust in God, to let go of my resistance to change. Help me be open to the process. Help me believe that the place I'll be dropped off will be better than the place where I was picked up. Help me surrender, trust, and accept, even if I don't understand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. From the Grapevine March 1962 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Today I will let my Higher Power handle my worry so I can be free, I choose to be alive in this moment and not blocked by the conversations that go on over and over in my head. I will stop trying to figure everything out and will trust that I will get the right answers at the right time. “ ~ Ruth Fishel |
January 22
Obsession Prayer Lord, You have all the power to set me free from these chains of thoughts that obsess my mind. I pray that this bondage which steals away my happiness and peace of mind be shattered right now. Let Your power remove these evil thoughts and establish peace in my heart. I commit my thoughts into Your mighty hands. I thank You for relieving me from this obsession. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Our faith should control the whole of our life. We alcoholics were living a divided life. We had to find a way to make it whole. When we were drinking, our lives were made up of a lot of scattered and unrelated pieces. We must pick up our lives and put them together again. We do it by recovering faith in a Divine Principle in the universe, which holds us together and holds the whole universe together and gives it meaning and purpose. We surrender our disorganized lives to that Power, we get into harmony with the Divine Spirit, and our lives are made whole again. So ............ Is my life whole again? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Expectations of Others It is our job to identify our needs, and then determine a balanced way of getting those needs met. It is unreasonable to expect anyone to be able or willing to meet our every request. We are responsible for asking for what we want and need. It's the other person's responsibility to freely choose whether or not to respond to our request. There's a difference between asking and demanding. We want love that is freely given. It is unreasonable and unhealthy to expect one person to be the source for meeting all our needs. Ultimately, we will become angry and resentful, maybe even punishing, toward that person for not supporting us as we expected. If a person cannot or will not be there for us, then we need to take responsibility for ourselves in that relationship. The issue of expectations goes back to knowing that we are responsible for identifying our needs, believing they deserve to be met, and discovering an appropriate, satisfactory way to do that in our life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Growth Growth and understanding came slowly, but they came steadily. And finally, I could feel gratitude for my sobriety -- for the saving grace of God. Now I feel totally free, because I know the truth about myself. . . I know that spiritual growth is a great, wide, beautiful thing and that I have only stepped up to the open door. Came To Believe Page 94 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now, and there will never be a time when it is not now." ~ Gerald Jampolsky |
January 23
The Tolerance Prayer Lord, give me tolerance towards those whose thoughts and ways conflict with mine. For though I would, I cannot always know what constitutes the Absolute Truth. The other person may be right, while I may be all wrong, yet unaware. Lord, make my motives right, for only this can ease my conscience when I sometimes err. Lord, give me tolerance, for who am I to stand in judgment on another person's mistakes? No one knows better than my inward self how many little blunders I have and can make. Life is full of stones that somehow trip us, and meaning not, we stumble now and then. Lord, give me tolerance, for only you are rightly fit to judge my fellow travelers. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought As we look back over our drinking careers, we must realize that our lives were a mess because we were a mess inside. The trouble was in us, not in life itself. Life itself was good enough, but we were looking at it the wrong way. We were looking at life through the bottom of a whiskey glass, and it was distorted. We could not see all the beauty and goodness and purpose in the world because our vision was blurred. We were in a house with one-way glass in the windows. People could see us but we could not look out and see them and see what life meant to them and should mean to us. We were blind then, but now we can see. So ............ Can I now look at life as it really is? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Coping With Stress Inevitably, there are times of stress in our lives. Sometimes, the stress is outside or around us, our circumstances are stressful. But sometimes, the stress is within. When the stress is external and internal, we experience our most difficult times. Our friends and groups can help us feel more balanced and peaceful in spite of our stressful conditions. Affirming that the events taking place are a temporarily uncomfortable part of a good, solid plan can help. We can assure ourselves that we will get through. We won't be destroyed. We won't crumple or go under. Our most important focus during times of stress is taking care of ourselves. We are better able to cope with the most irregular circumstances; we are better able to be there for others, if we're caring for ourselves. We can ask ourselves regularly: What do we need to do to take care of ourselves? What might help us feel better or more comfortable? Self-care may not come as easily during times of stress. Self-neglect may feel more comfortable. But taking care of us always works. I will try to remember that there is no situation that can't be benefited by taking care of myself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New Beginning I knew I had to have a new beginning, and this beginning had to be here. 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. Came To Believe Page 46 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others. " ~ John F. Kennedy |
January 24
Just Today Lord Lord, I come to You today asking that you open the way for a deepening of my trust in You. I give You my worries, my burdens and fears, confident that You will make something useful of them. I give You all my hopes and dreams. Thank You for showing me what to do to make them come true. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When we were drinking, we used to be ashamed of the past. Remorse is terrible mental punishment: ashamed of ourselves for the things we've said and done, afraid to face people because of what they might think of us, afraid of the consequences of what we did when we were drunk. In A.A., we forget about the past. Do I believe that God has forgiven me for everything I've done in the past, no matter how black it was, provided I'm honestly trying to do the right thing today? So ............ Am I ready to move on?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Control & Change Trying to control and change the people around us creates great problems in our relationships. When people we love are expressing themselves, we're thinking about what we wish they would say, and it blocks us from hearing clearly. We seem to be more trapped in these self-centered behaviors with the ones we are closest to. We can change ourselves by slowly releasing our security grip on others. We can focus more on understanding what others are saying to us than on changing how they think and feel. Intimacy is clearly seeing each other and knowing the differences as well as the similarities. It requires that both people be allowed to walk on separate paths. I need to release my grip on my loved ones and turn to my Higher Power for security and serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spirit of the Universe I had always believed in a Power greater than 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 nowhere. My intellectual heroes, the chemists, the astronomers, even the evolutionists, suggested vast laws and forces at work. Despite contrary indications, I had little doubt that a mighty purpose and rhythm underlay all. How could there be so much of precise and immutable law, and no intelligence? I simply had to believe in a Spirit of the Universe, who knew neither time nor limitation. But that was as far as I had gone. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.” ~ Tony Robbins |
January 25
Just for Today Prayer May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We have been given a new life just because we happened to become alcoholics. We certainly don't deserve the new life that has been given us. There is little in our past to warrant the life we have now. Many people live good lives from their youth on, not getting into serious trouble, being well adjusted to life, and yet they have not found all that we drunks have found. We had the good fortune to find Alcoholics Anonymous and with it a new life. We are among the lucky few in the world who have learned a new way to live. So ............ Am I deeply grateful for the new life that I have learned in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation God's Name It doesn't matter what name we use. No one name is ever fully adequate, and each of us has our own private way of trying to understand that which we can't ever understand fully. We give God names, which attempt to express what God means to us personally, what God does for us as individuals, and how we see ourselves in relation to God. Could it also be true that other people can't be labeled and put into one box? Doing so limits them to one particular way of being understood, and it limits the ways we can get to know them. If we are all made in God's image, then we all deserve the freedom to be seen differently by different people. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Self-restraint Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious power-driven arguments. 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. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 91 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Just be honest with yourself. That opens the door.” ~ Vernon Howard |
January 26
Prayer For Peace & Joy There are times, Lord, when I feel a deep sense of unrest. Trials and tribulations beset me, and I do not know where to turn. I pray that you will guide me in all ways and help me to make the best of the situation. Help me to find happiness in the small things. I pray that you bring me the peace and joy that I seek in life. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When we were drinking, we used to worry about the future. Worry is terrible mental punishment. What's going to become of me? Where will I end up? In the gutter or the sanitarium? We can see ourselves slipping, getting worse and worse, and we wonder what the finish will be. Sometimes we get so discouraged in thinking about the future that we toy with the idea of suicide. So ............ In A.A., have I stopped worrying about the future? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Detaching with Love Sometimes people we love do things we don't like or approve of. We react. They react. Before long, we're all reacting to each other, and the problem escalates. When do we detach? When we're hooked into a reaction of anger, fear, guilt, or shame. When we get hooked into a power play - an attempt to control or force others to do something they don't want to do. When the way we're reacting isn't helping the other person or solving the problem. When the way we're reacting is hurting us It's time to detach when detachment appears to be the least likely, or possible, thing to do. The first step toward detachment is understanding that reacting and controlling don't help. The next step is getting peaceful - getting centered and restoring our balance. Take a walk. Leave the room. Take a long, hot bath. Call a friend. Call on God. Breathe deeply. Find peace. From that place of peace and centering will emerge an answer, a solution. I will surrender and trust that the answer is near. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pain-Healer In every A.A. story, pain has been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price purchased more than we expected. It led us to a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. We began to fear pain less, and desire humility more than ever. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 75 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Everyone wants happiness. No one wants pain. But you can't have a rainbow without a little rain." ~ Unknown Author |
January 27
Prayer to Start Today Lord, thank you for this day. I ask that You would guide my path today and, more specifically, my thoughts, words and actions. Please be with me throughout the day and help me navigate whatever comes my way. Most importantly, help me to reflect and live out my life in a way that reflects our will, not mine. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought I need the A.A. principles for the development of the buried life within me, that good life, which I had misplaced, but which I found again in this fellowship. This life within me is developing slowly but surely, with many setbacks, many mistakes, many failures, but still developing. As long as I stick close to A.A., my life will go on developing, and I cannot yet know what it will be, but I know that it will be good. That's all I want to know. It will be good. So ............ Am I thanking God for A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Courage We pray for the courage to change the things we can. Making changes requires the courage to start out on a new, unknown course. Courage does not mean the elimination of fear. Courage means acting in spite of the fact that we are afraid. It takes courage to learn to affirm one's rights as an individual, especially if the old way was to say yes to all demands and requests, reasonable and unreasonable. It takes courage to face the truth instead of continuing to live with comfortable illusions. Sometimes courage comes when we are pressed to a wall of failure. There is nothing to do but turn around and step out in a new direction, even though we are afraid. The courage born of desperation can produce remarkable results. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Convinced Practicing AA'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. As Bill Sees It Page 118 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Pray not for lighter burdens but for stronger backs." ~ Theodore Roosevelt |
January 28
Assurance Prayer Lord, There are times when I have doubted my strength and my ability to do things. I know that you have blessed me immensely with talent and a resilient heart. Lord, I ask for your help as I pursue my dreams. Multiply my confidence and help me believe that you have set me up for glory. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought A.A. may be human in its organization, but it is divine in its purpose. The purpose is to point me toward God and the good life. My feet have been set upon the right path. I feel it in the depths of my being. I am going in the right direction. The future can be safely left to God. Whatever the future holds, it cannot be too much for me to bear. I have the Divine Power with me to carry me through everything that may happen. So ............ Am I pointed toward God and the good life? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Panic If panic strikes, we do not have to allow it to control our behaviors. Behaviors controlled by panic tend to be self-defeating. No matter what the situation or circumstance, panic is usually not a good foundation. No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have at least a moment to breathe deeply and restore our serenity and peace. The healthy way of life we are seeking, is built on a foundation of peace and quiet confidence - in ourselves, in our God. Do not panic. That takes us away from the path. Relax. Breathe deeply. Let peace flow through our body and mind. From this base, our Source shall supply the necessary resources. I will treat panic as a separate issue that needs immediate attention. I will refuse to allow panicky thoughts and feelings to motivate me. Instead, I will let peace and trust motivate my feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. As Bill Sees It Page 38 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all." ~ Les Brown |
January 30
Prayer For Tough Times Dear Lord, Teach me to be content when I’m facing a bad day. How easy it is to be happy when everything goes well. How tough it is to remember my joy when one thing after another appears to defeat me. Turn my frown into a smile. Tears into laughter. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought I am content to face the rest of my life without alcohol. I have surrendered as gracefully as possible to the inevitable. I have made the great decision once and for all. I have no more reservations. Nothing can happen to me now that would justify my taking a drink. No death of a dear one. No great calamity in any area of my life should justify me in drinking. Even if I were on some desert isle, far from the rest of the world, but not far from God, should I ever feel it right to drink. For me, alcohol is out - period. So ............ I will always be safe unless I take that first drink. Am I fully resigned to this fact? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Holding Your Own Sometimes, it is hard to stand in our own truth and trust what we know, especially when others would try to convince us otherwise. Others may be dealing with issues of guilt and shame. They may have their own agenda. They may be immersed in denial. Believing lies is dangerous. When we stop trusting our truth, when we repress our instincts, when we tell ourselves there must be something wrong with us for feeling what we feel or believing what we believe, we deal a deadly blow to our self and our health. We discount that important part of ourselves that knows what is the truth. This does not mean that we are never wrong. But we are not always wrong. Today, I will trust my truth, my instincts, and my ability to ground myself in reality. I will not allow myself to be swayed by bullying, manipulating, games, dishonesty, or people with peculiar agendas. Trust yourself. Trust what you know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honesty I know the biggest word for me in AA is "honesty." I don't believe this program would work for me if I didn't get honest with myself about everything. Honesty is the easiest word for me to understand because it is the exact opposite of what I've been doing all my life. Therefore, it will be the hardest to work on. But I will never be totally honest -- that would make me perfect, and none of us can claim to be perfect. Only God is. Experience, Strength and Hope Pages 400-401 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote ”Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us.” ~ Eric Hoffer |
January 30
Prayer for Empathy Lord, May we come to recognize our own vulnerability and our longing to be healed. As we encounter our own pain, let it deepen in us a capacity to feel for others. Enlarge our souls, expand our minds, and soften our hearts towards all who suffer. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought If we allow an alcoholic thought to lodge in our minds for any length of time, we are in danger of having a slip. Therefore we must dispel such thoughts at once, by refusing their admittance and by immediately putting constructive thoughts in their place. Remember that alcohol is poison to you. Remember that it is impossible for you to drink normally. Remember that one drink will lead to others and you will eventually be drunk. Remember what happened to you in the past as a result of your drinking. Think of every reason you have learned in A.A. for not taking that drink. Fill your mind with constructive thoughts. So ............ Am I keeping my thoughts constructive? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Beauty So many people think that beauty is what you do to yourself; what you wear, makeup, clothes, hairstyles or expensive jewelry. Again it is so easy to get caught up in "things". Reality is not about what we wear but who we are. The beauty that God has created comes from within. The twinkle in the eyes that says "hello". The hug that says "I love you". The gentle embrace and smile that says "I forgive you". The tear that cries "I understand". When God said to the world, "It is good", Beauty was born. Drugs and crazy relationships only get in the way of us being what we were intended to be: beautiful for God. I will try to put God's beauty in my actions, words and attitudes. (From the writings of Leo Booth) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Change It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were. But in AA we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. . . 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. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 47 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." ~ Benjamin Franklin |
January 31
Prayer for Peace of Mind Lord, We ask you to give us all around peace in our mind, body, soul and spirit. We want you to heal and remove everything that is causing stress, grief, and sorrow in our lives. Please guide our path through life and make our enemies be at peace with us. Let your peace reign in our family, at our place of work, businesses and everything we lay our hands on. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The A.A. program is one of faith. Because we find that we must have faith in a Power greater than ourselves if we are going to get sober. We're helpless before alcohol, but when we turn our drink problem over to God and have faith that He can give us all the strength we need, then we have the drink problem licked. Faith in that Divine Principle in the universe which we call God is the essential part of the A.A. program. So ............ Is faith still strong in me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Fear of Failure It is often the fear of failure, which prevents us from attempting what we really want to do. Our past failures can undermine our confidence in our present abilities. For this reason, we need to let go of the past and be willing to try something new. For many of us, belief in a Higher Power is a new commitment. The fear that we will be disappointed sometimes blocks us from the wholehearted trust that such a commitment entails. The fear of failure is best dealt with by living one day at a time. We can risk a small failure today; it is the large failure in the future that terrifies us. By taking a small step today, toward working on an important project, we build the confidence that we can eventually succeed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Bill W., In Letter, 1962 (Grapevine) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "When we are feeling creatively blocked, it is usually our own fear that is creating that block." ~ Madelyn Taylor |
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