AA Thoughts For Today - January

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 1

Key of Willingness

Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door
ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more.
Though self-will may slam it shut again, as it frequently does, it will
always respond the moment we again pick up the key of willingness.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Three" p. 35

Thought to Ponder
Take a walk with God. He will meet you at the Steps.

AA-related 'Alconym'
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Promises
We are going to know a new freedom
and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past
nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity
and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity
will disappear.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity
will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle
situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us
what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises?
We think not.
They are being fulfilled among us --
sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
They will always materialize if we work for them.
c. 1976, 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-4

Thought to Consider . . .
It works -- it really does.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G R A C E = Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Seed
Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--- that our lives had become unmanageable.
"It was then discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again. Following every spree, he would say to himself, 'Maybe those A.A.'s were right. . . .' After a few such experiences, often years before the onset of extreme difficulties, he would return to us convinced. He had hit bottom as truly as any of us. John Barleycorn himself had become our best advocate."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 23-24

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The first thing my sponsor told me was, 'I don't have time to help you stay sick ... but if you want to get better I'd be glad to help."
Temple, TX, October 1990
"The Man I've Always Wanted to Be,"
Emotional Sobriety

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We have three little mottoes which are apropos.
Here they are:
First Things First
Live and Let Live
Easy Does It."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 135~

"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~

In Step Eleven we saw that if a Higher Power had restored us to sanity and had enabled us to live with some peace of mind in a sorely troubled world, then such a Higher Power was worth knowing better, by as direct contact as possible.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.109

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

It has often been said of A.A. that we are interested only in alcoholism. This is not true. We have to get over drinking in order to stay alive. But anyone who knows the alcoholic personality by firsthand contact knows that no true alky ever stops drinking permanently without undergoing a profound personality change.
We thought conditions drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn't do so to our entire satisfaction, our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.

Prayer for the Day: God, I offer myself to Thee To build with me & 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 & Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 2

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
The will of God will never take me where the grace of God will not protect me.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F R O G = Fully Rely On God.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Faith
When I was driven to my knees by alcohol,
I was made ready to ask for the gift of faith.
And all was changed.
Never again, my pains and problems notwithstanding,
would I experience my former desolation.
I saw the universe to be lighted by God's love;
I was alone no more.
Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 51

Thought to Consider . . .
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around,
and faith looks up.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Allergy
>From "It Might Have Been Worse":
"The explanation that alcoholism was a disease of a two-fold nature, an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind, cleared up a number of puzzling questions for me. The allergy we could do nothing about. Somehow our bodies had reached the point where we could no longer absorb alcohol in our systems. The why is not important; the fact is that one drink will set up a reaction in our system that requires more, that one drink is too much and a hundred drinks are not enough."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 355

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Let it never be said that the spiritual way is a cowardly or escapist approach to life. On the contrary, it requires maximum diligence and persistence to seek divine guidance when all the evidence of our eyes and ears tries to tell us that life is largely physical, intellectual and emotional."
Jackson, Mississippi, November 1964
"Let Go and Let God,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Everybody knows that those in bad health, and those who seldom play,
do not laugh much. So let each family play together or separately as
much as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be
happy, joyous, and free."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~

"For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God. There had been a
humble willingness to have Him with me -- and He came.
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, Page 12~

I must quickly assure you that A.A.'s tread innumerable paths in their quest for faith.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.27

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God's hands were better than anything we could have planned.
My depression deepened unbearably, and finally it seemed to me as though I were at the very bottom of the pit. For the moment, the last vestige of my proud obstinacy was crushed. All at once I found myself crying out, 'If there is a God, let Him show Himself! I am ready to do anything, anything!' Suddenly the room lit up with a great white light. It seemed to me, in the mind's eye, that I was on a mountain and that a wind not of air but of spirit was blowing. And then it burst upon me that I was a free man. Slowly the ecstasy subsided. I lay on the bed, but now for a time I was in another world, a new world of consciousness. All about me and through me there was a wonderful feeling of Presence , and I thought to myself, 'So this is the God of the preachers!'

Prayer for the Day: For Today - O God: Give me strength to live another day; Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties; Let me not lose faith in other people; Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness; Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them; Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity; Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things; Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth; Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness; and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls; in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 3

Self-Will

The first requirement is that we be convinced that
any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. On
that basis we are almost always in collision with something
or somebody, even though our motives are good.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, "How It Works," p. 60

Thought to Ponder
The smallest package in the world is an alcoholic all wrapped up in himself.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H O W = Honest, Open-minded, Willing.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Joyous
We have been speaking to you of serious,
sometimes tragic things.
We have been dealing with alcohol in its worst aspects.
But we aren't a glum lot.
If newcomers could see no joy in our existence,
they wouldn't want it.
We absolutely insist on enjoying life.
We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state
of the nations,
nor do we carry the world's troubles on our shoulders.
c. 1976, 2001AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 132

Thought to Consider . . .
Laughter is the sound of recovery.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
H J F = Happy, Joyous, Free

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Prayer
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"A news clipping whose content was to become famous was called to our attention by a New York member, newsman
Jack. It was an obituary notice from a New York paper. Underneath a routine account of the one who had died there
appeared these words: 'God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things
we can, and wisdom to know the difference.' [Usually attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr]
"Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words. While Ruth and I were admiring the prayer, and wondering how to
use it, friend Howard walked into the office. Confirming our own ideas, he exclaimed, 'We ought to print this on cards
and drop one into every piece of mail that goes out of here. I'll pay for the first printing.' For several years afterward we
followed his suggestion, and with amazing speed the Serenity Prayer came into general use and took its place
alongside our two other favorites, the Lord's Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 196

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Worrying about a situation won't change it. I do all that I can and then give the rest to God."
Wallkill, N.Y., March 2007
"Step Three: From Sight to Insight,"
Emotional Sobriety II

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to
find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and
direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal
consequences may be."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~

"...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~

An honest regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for blessings received, and a willingness to try for better things
tomorrow will be the permanent assets we shall seek.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.95

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Years ago I used to commiserate with all people who suffered. Now I commiserate only with those who suffer in
ignorance, who do not understand the purpose and ultimate utility of pain.'
Someone once remarked that pain is the touchstone of spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.'s can agree with him, for
we know that the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, and continued turmoil before serenity.
'Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the Light, even though the moment you do not see.

Prayer for the Day: Fill our minds with Wisdom, our hearts with thanksgiving, and our lips with praise. In all things, may
we ever be grateful for our redemption and quick to share the Good News; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 4

Freedom from Fear

When, with God’s help, we calmly accepted our lot, then we found we could
live at peace with ourselves and show others who still suffered the same fears
that they could get over them, too. We found that freedom from fear
was more important than freedom from want.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Twelve," p. 122

Thought to Ponder
Situations I fear are rarely as bad as the fear itself.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F E A R = Forgetting Everything's All Right.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Coping
God willing, we members of AA may never again
have to deal with drinking,
but we have to deal with sobriety every day.
How do we do it?
By learning -- through practicing the Twelve Steps
and through sharing at meetings -- how to cope with
the problems that we looked to booze to solve,
back in our drinking days. . .
We learn how to level out the emotional swings
that got us into trouble
both when we were up and when we were down.
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 160
c. 2001AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 558-9

Thought to Consider . . .
The peaks and valleys of my life
have become gentle rolling hills.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C A R D S =
Call your sponsor,
Ask for help from your Higher Power,
Read the Big Book,
Do the Twelve Steps,
Stay active in your group.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Duty
From "Reason or Conscience":
"When, in all humility, I try to pass our message on to other less fortunate alcoholics, I know that the plan of the Higher Power comes to us through the medium of people. To us alcoholics, this does not mean common or garden people, but special people, such as other alcoholics. And I am guided to include among the people from whom I might receive guidance, and to whom I must demonstrate the life of my conscience or Higher Power, those who married me, loved me, befriended me, and stuck by me, as others stuck by other alcoholics. Bulawayo, Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe]"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 82

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"As I trudge the Road of Happy Destiny, AA holds my left hand, God holds my right, and I have no hands left to pick up a drink."
Albuquerque, N.M., January 2002
"Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ 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~

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.
Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
Alcoholics Anonymous page 417

Even when we have tried hard and failed, we may chalk that up as one of the greatest credits of all.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.93

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

'We must never be blinded by the futile philosophy that we are just the hapless victims of our inheritance, of our life experience, and of our surroundings - that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us. This is not the road to freedom. We have to believe that we can really choose.
'As active alcoholics, we lost our ability to choose whether we would drink. We were the victims of a compulsion which seemed to decree that we must go on with our own destruction.
'Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery. We came to believe that alone we were powerless over alcohol. This was surely a choice, and a most difficult one. We came to believe that a Higher Power could restore us to sanity when we became willing to practice A.A.'s Twelve Steps.
In short, we chose to become willing, and no better choice did we ever make.

Prayer for the Day: God of Promise, you have fulfilled the prophets' words and taught us to long for your coming again: stir in us a desire to build your kingdom in our time; God of Hope, you sent your son, Jesus Christ, into a world of fear to bring glad tidings of your love: turn our hearts from fear to hope and inspire us to share the Good News; God of Light, creation sang Christ's glory at his birth: kindle in us the light of your love, that we might be bearers of your truth and life in our land; In a world of chaos, may we find time and silence to hear your still, small voice. Bless us with your presence. Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 5

Underlying Cause

Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves
is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking. We have drunk to drown
feelings of fear, frustration, and depression. We have drunk to escape the guilt
of passions, and then have drunk again to make more passions possible. We have
drunk for vainglory—that we might the more enjoy foolish dreams of pomp and
power. This perverse soul-sickness is not pleasant to look upon.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Four," p. 44

Thought to Ponder
Clear vision for tomorrow comes only after a real look at yesterday.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F E A R = Frustration, Ego, Anger, Resentment.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Resentments
Few people have been more victimized by resentments
than have we alcoholics.
It mattered little whether our resentments
were justified or not.
A burst of temper could spoil a day,
and a well-nursed grudge could make us
miserably ineffective.
Nor were we ever skillful in separating
justified from unjustified anger.
As we saw it, our wrath was always justified.
Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people,
could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely.
These emotional "dry benders" often led
straight to the bottle.
Other kinds of disturbance -- jealousy, envy,
sef-pity, or hurt pride -- did the same thing.
c. 1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 90

Thought to Consider . . .
Anger is the hot wind that extinguishes the light of reason.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C A L M = Can Anger Leave Me.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Essentials
From "'Let's Keep It Simple'":
"After years of sobriety I occasionally ask myself: 'Can it be this simple?' Then, at meetings, I see former cynics and skeptics who have walked the A.A. path out of hell by packaging their lives, without alcohol, into twenty-four hour segments, during which they practice a few principles to the best of their individual abilities. And then I know again that, while it isn't always easy, if I keep it simple, it works."
1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily Reflections, pg. 30

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"My desire to drink became a desire not to."
Nipawin, Saskatchewan, November 2003
"Nobody's Fault But Mine,"
Happy, Joyous & Free

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"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, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

"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~

Next came the expression of an aspiration and a hope for himself.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.101

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of harboring resentment is infinitely grave. For then 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 sudden rage were not for us. Anger is the dubious luxury of normal men, but for us alcoholics it is poison.

Prayer for the Day: My Design - God, my purpose is to help others. Give me this work, till my life shall end and life till my work is done.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 6

Talk About God

Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which
we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously.
But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that's exactly
what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find
a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. That means
we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral.
And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, "We Agnostics," p. 45

Thought to Ponder
No God, no peace — know God, know peace.

AA-related 'Alconym'
G I F T = God Is Forever There.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Sponsors
Every sponsor is necessarily a leader.
The stakes are huge.
A human life, and usually the happiness of a whole family,
hangs in the balance.
What the sponsor does and says,
how well he estimates the reactions of his prospects,
how well he times and makes his presentation,
how well he handles criticisms,
and how well he leads his prospect on
by personal spiritual example ...
well, these attributes of leadership
can make all the difference,
often the difference between life and death.
Thank God that Alcoholics Anonymous is blessed
with so much leadership in each and all of its great affairs!
Bill W., April 1959
c. 1988 AA Grapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 292

Thought to Consider . . .
A recovering alcoholic without a sponsor
is much like a ship without a rudder.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S P O N S O R =
Sober Person Offering Newcomer Support Of Recovery

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Eternal
From "More About Alcoholism":
"Most of us have believed that if we remained sober for a long stretch, we could thereafter drink normally. But here is a man who at fifty-five years found he was just where he had left off at thirty. We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: 'Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.'"
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 33

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Each of us must conform reasonably well to AA's Steps and Traditions, or else we shall go mad or die of alcoholism."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., October 1947
"Traditions Stressed in Memphis Talk
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ 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

"Faith without works is dead."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 76~

We sit in A.A. meetings and listen, not only to receive something ourselves, but to give the reassurance and support which our presence can bring.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.110

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

In ancient times material progress was painfully slow. The spirit of modern scientific inquiry, research, and invention was almost unknown.
In the realm of the material, men's minds were lettered by superstition, tradition, and all sorts of fixed ideas. Some of the contemporaries of Columbus thought a round earth preposterous. Others came near putting Galileo to death for his astronomical heresies.
Are not some of us just as biased and unreasonable about the realm of the spirit as were the ancients about the realm of the material?
We have 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.

Prayer for the Day: The Heart Of A Child -
Grant me, O God,
the heart of a child,
pure and transparent as a spring;
a simple heart,
which never harbours sorrows;
a heart glorious in self-giving,
tender in compassion;
a heart faithful and generous,
which will never forget any good
or bear a grudge for any evil.
Make me a heart gentle and humble,
loving without asking any return,
large-hearted and undauntable,
which no ingratitude can sour
and no indifference can weary;
a heart born to help others,
usefulness never measured.

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AA Thought for the Day

January 7

Conditions

We thought "conditions" drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these
conditions and found that we couldn't to our entire satisfaction, our drinking
went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that
we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Four," p. 47

Thought to Ponder
Learn to change, change to learn.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A C T I O N = Any Change To Improve Our Nature.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Sponsors
Every sponsor is necessarily a leader.
The stakes are huge.
A human life, and usually the happiness of a whole family,
hangs in the balance.
What the sponsor does and says,
how well he estimates the reactions of his prospects,
how well he times and makes his presentation,
how well he handles criticisms,
and how well he leads his prospect on
by personal spiritual example ...
well, these attributes of leadership
can make all the difference,
often the difference between life and death.
Thank God that Alcoholics Anonymous is blessed
with so much leadership in each and all of its great affairs!
Bill W., April 1959
c. 1988 AA Grapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 292

Thought to Consider . . .
A recovering alcoholic without a sponsor
is much like a ship without a rudder.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S P O N S O R =
Sober Person Offering Newcomer Support Of Recovery

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Eternal
From "More About Alcoholism":
"Most of us have believed that if we remained sober for a long stretch, we could thereafter drink normally. But here is a man who at fifty-five years found he was just where he had left off at thirty. We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: 'Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.'"
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 33

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Each of us must conform reasonably well to AA's Steps and Traditions, or else we shall go mad or die of alcoholism."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., October 1947
"Traditions Stressed in Memphis Talk
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ 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

"Faith without works is dead."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 76~

We sit in A.A. meetings and listen, not only to receive something ourselves, but to give the reassurance and support which our presence can bring.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.110

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

In ancient times material progress was painfully slow. The spirit of modern scientific inquiry, research, and invention was almost unknown.
In the realm of the material, men's minds were lettered by superstition, tradition, and all sorts of fixed ideas. Some of the contemporaries of Columbus thought a round earth preposterous. Others came near putting Galileo to death for his astronomical heresies.
Are not some of us just as biased and unreasonable about the realm of the spirit as were the ancients about the realm of the material?
We have 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.

Prayer for the Day: The Heart Of A Child -
Grant me, O God,
the heart of a child,
pure and transparent as a spring;
a simple heart,
which never harbours sorrows;
a heart glorious in self-giving,
tender in compassion;
a heart faithful and generous,
which will never forget any good
or bear a grudge for any evil.
Make me a heart gentle and humble,
loving without asking any return,
large-hearted and undauntable,
which no ingratitude can sour
and no indifference can weary;
a heart born to help others,
usefulness never measured.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 8

Two Alternatives

If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution.
We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region
from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives:
One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable
situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, "There Is A Solution," p. 25

Thought to Ponder
The solution is simple. The solution is spiritual.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H E L P = His Ever-Loving Presence.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Change
How many of us would presume to declare,
"Well, I'm sober, and I'm happy.
What more can I want, or do?
I'm fine the way I am."
We know that the price of such self-satisfaction
is an inevitable backslide,
punctuated at some point by a very rude awakening.
We have to grow or else deteriorate.
For us, the status quo can only be for today,
never for tomorrow.
Change we must; we cannot stand still.
Bill W., April 1961
c. 1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 25

Thought to Consider . . .
Backsliding begins when knee-bending stops.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C H A N G E = Can Help Attract New Gifts and Energy

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

When?
Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol , that our lives had become unmanageable.
"Alcoholics who still had their health, their families, their jobs began to recognize their alcoholism. They were spared
that last ten or fifteen years of literal hell the rest of us had gone through. Since Step One requires an admission that our
lives have become unmanageable, how could people such as these take this Step?
"It was obviously necessary to raise the bottom the rest of us had hit to the point where it would hit them. By going back
in our own drinking histories, we could show that years before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking
even then was no mere habit, that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 23

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevinek Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"If it were not for the 'we' of AA, there would be no 'I'."
New York, NY., November 1969
"Tradition One"
Best of the Grapevine, Volume 1

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from
care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will
mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152~

"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~

Well, meditation is like that, too; it helps to envision our spiritual objective before we try to move toward it.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.100

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Is sobriety all that we are to expect of a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety is only a bare beginning; it is only the first gift of the first awakening. If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. As it does go on, we find that bit by bit we can discard the old life - the one that did not work - for a new life that can and does work under any conditions whatever.
Regardless of worldly success or failure, regardless of pain or joy, regardless of sickness or health or even of death itself, a new life of endless possibilities can be lived if we are willing to continue our awakening, through the practice of A.A.'s Twelve Steps.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, I give you may hands to do Your work; I give You my feet to go Your way; I give You my eyes to see as You see; I give You my tongue to speak Your words; I give You my mind that You may think in me; I give You my spirit that You may pray in me. Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me – love the Father and love all humankind. I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 9

The Truth

We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again:
"Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic."
Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever.
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.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, "More About Alcoholism," p. 33

Thought to Ponder
If we want to quit drinking, we are going to have to quit drinking.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Alcoholics Answer.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Action
"Then they outlined the spiritual answer
and program of action
which a hundred of them had followed successfully.
Though I had been only a nominal churchman,
their proposals were not, intellectually, hard to swallow.
But the program of action, though entirely sensible,
was pretty drastic.
It meant I would have to throw several lifelong conceptions
out of the window.
That was not easy.
But the moment I made up my mind
to go through with the process,
I had the curious feeling that my alcoholic condition
was relieved, as in fact it proved to be."
c. 1976, 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 42

Thought to Consider . . .
Willingness without action is fantasy.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A C T I O N = Any Change Toward Improving One's Nature

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Solutions
From "The Housewife Who Drank at Home":
"I had problems. We all have them, and I thought a little brandy or a little wine now and then could certainly hurt no one. I
don't believe, when I started, that I even had in mind the thought that I was drinking. I had to sleep. I had to clear my mind
and free it from worry, and I had to relax. But from one or two drinks of an afternoon or evening, my intake mounted, and
mounted fast. It wasn't long before I was drinking all day. I had to have that wine. The only incentive that I had, toward the
end, for getting dressed in the morning was to get out and get 'supplies' to help me get my day started. But the only thing
that got started was my drinking."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 296

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"By revealing our secrets and thereby ridding ourselves of guilt we can actually change our thinking and by altering our
thinking we can change ourselves. What we will be tomorrow is determined by what we think today."
Brentwood, N.Y., May 1991
"What We Will Be Tomorrow"
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~

If our tempers are consistently bad, we arouse anger in others.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.80

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

The moment Twelfth Step work forms a group, a discovery is made - that most individuals cannot recover unless there is a group. Realization dawns on each member that he is but a small part of a great whole; that no personal sacrifice is too great for preservation of the Fellowship. He learns that the clamor of desires and ambitions within him must be silenced whenever these could damage the group.
It becomes plain that the group must survive or the individual will not.
'The Lone member at sea, the A.A. at war in a far land - all these members know that they belong to A.A.'s world-wide community, that theirs is only a physical separation, that their fellows may be as near as the next port of call. Ever so importantly, they are certain that God's grace is just as much with them on the high seas or the lonely outpost as it is with them at home.

Prayer for the Day: Father God, there are so many decisions to make and I don’t seem to know what is the best for now or for the future. You said if we lack wisdom, all we need to do ask you. I really need you to pour wisdom into my mind today. Thank you!

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 10

Spiritual Tools

There is a solution. Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of our
pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful
consummation. But we saw that it really worked in others, and we had come to believe
in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it. When, therefore, 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, "There Is A Solution," p. 25

Thought to Ponder
The solution is simple. The solution is spiritual.

AA-related 'Alconym'
S O B E R = Spiritually On Beam; Everything's Right.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Courage
I looked around me at people who seemed happy
and tried to analyze their happiness,
and it seemed to me that without exception
these people had something or somebody
they loved very much.
I didn't have the courage to love;
I was not even sure I had the capacity.
Fear of rejection and its ensuing pain were not to be risked . . .
c. 1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 546
(does not appear in 4th Edition)

Thought to Consider . . .
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A A = Altered Attitudes

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Cooperation
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"Public relations was not only a big problem but a very delicate one. Any blunders that could arouse general prejudice
might prolong the suffering of many and cost the lives of some. A carefully thought-out public relations policy had to be
formed and put into operation.
"Prime consideration was given to our relations with medicine and religion. Under no circumstances must we get into
competition with either. If we appeared to be a new religious sect, we would certainly be in trouble. And if we moved into
the medical field as such, there would be more trouble. So we began to emphasize the fact that A.A. was a way of life
that conflicted with no one's religious belief. We let the doctors know how much we needed hospitalization, and we
suggested to psychiatrists and drying-out places the advantage of cooperating with us."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 197

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The AA message does not carry itself; somebody must carry it."
Jackson, Miss., November 1964
"Let Go and Let God,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can
laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.
Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is
that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust
their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him
demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our
fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once,
we commence to outgrow fear."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 68~

"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~

The answer, now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.141

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. With it comes the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. Yet it is only a step. We will want to go further.
We will want the good that is in us all, even in the worst of us, to flower and to grow. But first of all we shall want sunlight; nothing much can grow in the dark. Meditation is our step out into the sun.
'A clear light seems to fall upon us all - when we open our eyes. Since our blindness is caused by our own defects, we must first deeply realize what they are. Constructive meditation is the first requirement for each new step in our spiritual growth.'

Prayer for the Day: Lord, make my life A window for Your light To shine through and a mirror to reflect Your love To all I meet. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 11

Absolutely Unable

But the actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception,
will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge.
This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize,
to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has been revealed
to us out of bitter experience.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, "More About Alcoholism," p. 39

Thought to Ponder
Faith makes the impossible possible.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Answer Available.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Defense
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.
c. 1976, 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 43

Thought to Consider
Alcohol ... cunning, baffling, powerful!

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S O B E R = Spirituality Over Booze Equals Recovery

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Faith
>From "The Belief Will Come":
"I remained dry for a number of years, and then, as you may already have guessed, I drank again. It was inevitable. I had
accepted only those parts of the program that fitted into my life without effort on my part. I was still the self-centered
egotist I had always been, still full of all my old hatreds, selfishness, and disbelief just as lacking in maturity as I had
been when I first arrived at A.A.
"This time, when I came to in the hospital, I had absolutely no hope. After all, you had told me that A.A. was the last hope
for the alcoholic, and I had failed there was nothing else. At this very point, my sister chose to send me a clipping from a
Sunday-school paper. No letter, just the clipping: 'Pray with disbelief; but pray with sincerity; and the belief will come.'"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 47

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The most important thing AA has given me is the chance to get to know someone I never knew -- myself."
Calgary, Alberta, December 1994
"Getting to Know You -- I Mean Me"
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~

"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will
be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new
freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to
shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness
and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things
and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our
whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and
of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to
handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize
that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 83~

Most of us begin making certain kinds of direct amends from the day we join Alcoholics Anonymous.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.83

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

About this slip business - I would not be too discouraged. I think you are suffering a great deal from a needless guilt. For
some reason or other, the Lord has laid out tougher paths for some of us, and I guess you are treading one of them.
God is not asking us to be successful. He is only asking us to try to be. That, you surely are doing, and have been doing.
So I would not stay away from A.A. through any feeling of discouragement or shame. It's just the place you should be.
Why don't you try just as a member? You don't have to carry the whole A.A. on your back, you know!
'It is not always the quantity of good things that you do, it is also the quality that counts.
'Above all, take it one day at a time.'

Prayer for the Day: For health and strength and daily food, We praise your name, O God. Amen

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 12

Merciless Obsession

Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven to A.A.,
and there we discover the fatal nature of our situation.
Then, and only then, do we become as open-minded to conviction
and as willing to listen as the dying can be. We stand ready to do
anything which will lift the merciless obsession from us.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step One," p. 24

Thought to Ponder
The gritty pain of alcoholism is the traction of recovery.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H O W N O W = Honest, Open-minded, Willing; No Other Way.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

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 have is a daily reprieve
contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
Every day is a day when we must carry the vision
of God's will into all our activities.
"How can I best serve Thee -- Thy will (not mine) be done."
These are thoughts which must go with us constantly.
We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish.
It is the proper use of the will.
c. 1976, 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85

Thought to Consider . . .
The alcoholic is in no greater peril
than when he takes sobriety for granted.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Acceptance, Trust.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Caring
>From "Serving My Brother":
"I frequently ask God to help me watch over my thoughts and words, that they may be the true and proper reflections of our program; to focus my aspirations once again to seek His guidance; to help me be truly kind and loving, helpful and healing, yet always filled with humility, and free from any trace of arrogance."
1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily Reflections, pg. 29

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Sometimes when I think I am having a bad day, I am really learning a hard lesson, cheap. And sometimes, when I think I am having a good day, I am really in trouble and just haven't recognized it yet. I'm really no judge at all of what kind of day I'm having."
Brentwood, Tenn., April 1991
"Good Days and Bad Days"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an
altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is
very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that
a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then
a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxvi~

"When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and
physically."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 64~

To a surprising extent, A.A. has offset the damage to family life brought about by years of alcoholism.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.117

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Pride 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 a place in society becomes the primary object of our lives, then pride steps in to justify our excesses.
I may attain 'humility for today' only to the extent that I am able to avoid the bog of guilt and rebellion on one hand and, on the other hand, that fair but deceiving land which is strewn with the fool's-gold coins of pride. This is how I can find and stay on the highroad to humility, which lies between these extremes. Therefore, a constant inventory which can reveal when I am off the road is always in order.

Prayer for the Day: Jesus, shine through me and be so in me that every person I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 13

Gratitude

"Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.
In other words, if you carry the message to still others, you will
be making the best possible repayment for the help given to you."
- As Bill Sees It, p. 29

Thought to Ponder
Grateful is a feeling. Gratitude is an action.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H U G S = Hope, Unity, Gratitude, Serenity.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Satisfaction
No satisfaction has been deeper
and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step job well done.
To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder
as they move from darkness into light,
to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning,
to see whole families reassembled,
to see the alcoholic outcast received back
into his community in full citizenship,
and above all to watch these people awaken
to the presence of a loving God in their lives --
these things are the substance of what we receive
as we carry AA's message to the next alcoholic.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 110

Thought to Consider . . .
I keep my sobriety by giving it away.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C A R E = Comforting And Reassuring Each other

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Better
From "Getting active:"
"After our first month's sobriety, many of us
notice a distinct difference. After three months,
our minds seem still clearer. And during our
second year of recovery, the change is striking.
More mental energy seems available to us than
ever before."
c. 1975, Living Sober, page 16

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"There have been many times when I've felt inadequate to meet life's demands, but AA and the Twelve Steps have always helped me find a way."
La Mesa, Calif., July 2006
"Sober in the Sixties,"
Voices of Long-Term Sobriety

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by
which faith can be acquired. If what we have learned and felt and
seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our
race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom
we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as
soon as we are willing and honest enough to try."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~

"Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people´s shortcomings
and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which
make us more useful to others."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 19~

"Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.40

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

The Shared Gift
A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven't been given the truth may die.
Faith is more than our greatest gift; its sharing with others is our greatest responsibility. May we of A.A. continually seek the wisdom and the willingness by which we may well fulfill that immense trust which the Giver of all perfect gifts has placed in our hands.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, be the beginning and end of all that we do and say. Prompt our actions with Your grace, and complete them with Your all-powerful help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 14

The Bottom

Since Step One requires an admission that our lives have become unmanageable,
how could people such as these take this Step? It was obviously necessary to
raise the bottom the rest of us had hit to the point where it would hit them.
By going back in our own drinking histories, we could show that years before we
realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then was no mere habit,
that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step One," p. 23

Thought to Ponder
My bottom is where I stop digging.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H E A L = Helping Every Alcoholic Live.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Unity
In many self-governing countries we are now seeing
the inroads of ignorance, apathy, and power-seeking
upon democratic systems.
Their spiritual resources of right purpose
and collective intelligence are waning.
Consequently, many a land has become so helpless
that the only answer is dictatorship.
Happily for us, there seems little prospect
of such a calamity in AA.
The life of each individual and of each group
is built around our Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
We very well know that the penalty for
extensive disobedience to these principles
is death for the individual and dissolution for the group.
An even greater force for AA's unity is in the compelling love
that we have for our fellow members and for the principles
upon which our lives today are founded.
Bill W.
c. 1962 AAWS, Twelve Concepts for World Service, 26th printing, p. 8

Thought to Consider . . .
Only those who see the invisible
can accomplish the impossible.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P R O G R A M = People Relying On God Relay A Message

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Quitting
>From "More about Alcoholism":
"Though there is no way of proving it, we believe that early in our drinking careers most of us could have stopped
drinking. But the difficulty is that few alcoholics have enough desire to stop while there is yet time."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 33

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The other day, I sent an AA friend on a job interview. He went to the wrong address and he lost the man's name. In another office, he stated his purpose, was offered a job, and came back with one better than the job I sent him to look for."
Wayne, Pa., June 1984
"The Mysterious Ways of the Higher Power"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"When ready, we say something like this: 'My Creator, I am now
willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. 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. Grant me strength, as
I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.' We have then
completed Step Seven."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 76~

"...with us, to drink is to die."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~

Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.74

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

The temptation is to become rather possessive of newcomers. Perhaps we try to give them advice about their affairs which we aren't really competent to give or ought not give at all. Then we are hurt and confused when the advice is rejected, or when it is accepted and brings still greater confusion.
'You can't make a horse drink water if he still prefers beer or is too crazy to know what he does want. Set a pail of water beside him, tell him how good it is and why, and leave him alone.
'If people really want to get drunk, there is, so far as I know, no way of stopping this - so leave them alone and let them get drunk. But don't exclude them from the water pail, either.'

Prayer for the Day: Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me to control my attitude and to respond to others with love and kindness. I pray that my attitude reflects your character always. In Jesus name, AMEN!

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 15

Prayer

Pray. Whether you believe it or not, pray to a higher power.
If we were able to stay sober on our own power, we wouldn't be here tonight.
It takes a power greater than ourselves, and prayer is how we contact that higher power.
You can use a religious one or one of your own choosing. If the God word bothers you,
pray to an anonymous higher power or even "to whom it may concern." In the morning,
ask this Higher Power to keep you sober that day and thank him at night for each sober day.
- The AA Grapevine, April 2013

Thought to Ponder
Trying to pray is praying.

AA-related 'Alconym'
P U S H = Pray Until Something Happens.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Fear
The achievement of freedom from fear
is a lifetime undertaking,
one that can never be wholly completed.
When under heavy attack, acute illness,
or in other conditions of serious insecurity,
we shall all react to this emotion --
well or badly, as the case may be.
Only the self-deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.
Bill W., Grapevine, January 1962
c. 1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 263

Thought to Consider . . .
Courage is the willingness to accept fear and act anyway.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F E A R = Face Everything And Recover

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Paradox
Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol , that our lives had become unmanageable.
"We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is
concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability. Our sponsors declared that we were
the victims of a mental obsession so subtly powerful that no amount of human willpower could break it. There was, they
said, no such thing as the personal conquest of this compulsion by the unaided will. The tyrant alcohol wielded a
double-edged sword over us: first we were smitten by an insane urge that condemned us to go on drinking, and then by
an allergy of the body that insured we would ultimately destroy ourselves in the process. Few indeed were those who,
so assailed, had ever won through in single-handed combat."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 22

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We are called to unity, not uniformity."
Oak Harbor, Wash., January 1984
"The Harmony of Service"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to
a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we
shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or
hostility. Drinkers will not stand for it.
After all, our problems were of our own making. Bottles were only a
symbol. Besides, we have stopped fighting anybody or anything. We
have to!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 103~

"Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted.
We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and
ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our
Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to
have a spiritual experience."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75

"And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances."
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 104 (Step Eleven)

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Many people will have no truck at all with absolute spiritual values. Perfectionists, they say, are either full of conceit
because they fancy they have reached some impossible goal, or else they are swamped in self-condemnation because
they have not done so.
Yet I think that we should not hold this view. It is not the fault of great ideals that they are sometimes misused and so
become shallow excuses for guilt, rebellion, and pride. On the contrary, we cannot grow very much unless we
constantly try to envision what the eternal spiritual values are.
'Day by day, we try to move a little toward God's perfection. So we need not be consumed by maudlin guilt for failure to
achieve His likeness and image by Thursday next. Progress is our aim, and His perfection is the beacon, light-years
away, that draws us on.'

Prayer for the Day: Prayer to Grow Closer to God - Dear Lord, I am trying to do better and better each day; I am trying to walk with you and do your will, but sometimes it seems like I am slipping backwards no matter how hard I try. And I get confused sometimes; even if I want to do the right thing, I don't always know what it is. So this is my prayer, heavenly Lord, for your help in straightening out my mind and straightening out my life. Lead me, Lord, and let your Holy Spirit guide me. Even if the correction is painful, help me to keep my mind open to your truth. Let me do your will in my every action, and know your will, that I might do it. Amen.