AA Thoughts For Today - November

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AA Thought for the Day

November 30

The First Milestone

A whole lifetime geared to self-centeredness cannot be set in reverse all at
once. Rebellion dogs our every step at first. When we have finally admitted
without reservation that we are powerless over alcohol, we are apt to breathe
a great sigh of relief, saying, "Well, thank God that's over! I'll never have to go
through that again!" Then we learn, often to our consternation, that this is only
the first milestone on the new road we are walking.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) p. 73

Thought to Ponder
Life begins at the end of our comfort zone.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A B C = Accept, Begin, Continue.

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

A Friend
"We finally saw that faith in some kind of God
was a part of our make-up,
just as much as the feeling we have for a friend.
Sometimes we had to search fearlessly,
but He was there.
He was as much a fact as we were.
We found the Great Reality deep down within us.
In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found.
It was so with us."
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 55

Thought to Consider . . .
Faith dares the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

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

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

Income
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"The peak of the flood finally passed, but the regular correspondence traffic through Headquarters remained so great that we saw we would have to have permanent paid help. Volunteers could not handle the situation.
"We also realized that these increased demands upon the office could not be met out of book income. So for the first time we asked the A.A. groups to help. Trustees Howard and Bert went on the road. They asked that all A.A. groups contribute to a special fund in the Foundation which would be earmarked 'for A.A. office expenses only.' The contributions would be entirely voluntary. As a measuring stick, it was suggested that each group send in one dollar per member per year."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 191-92

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

"Difficult times bring us to new degrees of acceptance and humility because we learn on a deeper level how close we really are to our next drink. If we hang on, we learn how the grace of the Fellowship and the principles of the program carry us through the tough spots as well as the times of joy."
Providence, R.I., March 2009
"The Bottom of the Glass,"
Voices of Long-Term Sobriety

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

"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~

'We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid the, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence."
Alcoholics Anonymous Page 133

Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other.
-Alcoholics Anonymous p.68

We found that freedom from fear was more important than freedom from want.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.122

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Sometimes, we register surprise, shock, and anger when people find fault with A.A. We are apt to be disturbed to such an extent that we cannot benefit by constructive criticism.
This sort of resentment makes no friends and achieves no constructive purpose. Certainly, this is an area in which we can improve.
It is evident that the harmony, security, and future effectiveness of A.A. will depend largely upon our maintenance of a thoroughly nonaggressive and pacific attitude in all our public relations. This is an exacting assignment, because in our drinking days we were prone to anger, hostility, rebellion, and aggression. And, even though we are now sober, the old patterns of behavior are to a degree still with us, always threatening to explode on any good excuse.
But we now know this, and therefore I feel confident that in the conduct of our public affairs we shall always find the grace to exert restraint.

Prayer for the Day: Fifth Step Prayer - Higher Power, My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me, in this Step, for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this and I will do it.