~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Language of the Heart
"As
we better use the 'language
of the heart,' our
communications grow apace:
already we find
ourselves in a safe passage through all those barriers of distance and
language,
of social distinctions,
nationality and creed,
that so divide the world
of our time."
Bill W., AA Today, published on the occasion of AA's
twenty-fifth anniversary.
The
Language of the Heart, pp. 309-10
Thought to Consider . . .
I
am responsible for carrying the message.
I am not responsible for
anyone receiving the message.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
HEART
Healing Enjoying And Recovering Together
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Accountability
From
"The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"It was evident
that here was a world-wide movement that had no direct access to its own
principal service affairs. The Trustees had authority over our services; A.A.
itself had no authority. The simple trusteeship had been the ideal guardian for
our infancy and adolescence, but how in future years could it possibly go on
functioning as it had? ...
"At first we had
talked vaguely about a hand-picked advisory council or an elected conference of
some sort. But since there was no imminent danger, no action was taken. ...
"Following a long
plea for an elected A.A. conference and other reforms,
and after having pointed out that the Trustees had all the authority there was,
with no responsibility to anyone, even to Dr. Bob and me...
"I set out on the
road in 1948 to sound out among the groups the possibility of an elected
conference to which the Board of Trustees could eventually become
accountable.--Bill W."
(c) 2001
AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 210-11
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES
Alcoholism
was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us .
. . We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being
dependent upon others . . . We still vainly tried to be secure by some
unhealthy sort of domination or dependence.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 252
When
I did my personal inventory I found that I had unhealthy relationships with
most people in my life -- my friends and family, for example. I always
felt isolated and lonely. I drank to dull emotional pain.
It was through staying
sober, having a good sponsor and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to
build up my low self-esteem. First the Twelve Steps taught me to become
my own best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach out
and love others.
(c)Copyright
1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.(c)
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
No Personal Power
"At
first, the remedy for my personal difficulties seemed so obvious that I could
not imagine any alcoholic turning the proposition down were it properly
presented to him. Believing so firmly that Christ can do anything, I had the
unconscious conceit to suppose that He would do everything through me--right
then and in the manner I chose. After six long months, I had to admit that not
a soul had surely laid hold of the Mater--not excepting myself.
"This brought me to
the good healthy realization that there were plenty of situations left in the
world over which I had no personal power--that if I was so ready to admit that
to be the case with alcohol, so I must make the same admission with respect to
much else. I would have to be still and know that He, not I, was God."
LETTER, 1940
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Do not be discouraged if your prospect does not respond at
once.
Search out another
alcoholic and try again. You are sure to find
someone desperate enough
to accept with eagerness what you offer. We find it a waste of time to keep
chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. If you leave such a person
alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. To spend
too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an
opportunity to live and be happy."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 96
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day
It's been proved that we alcoholics can't get sober by our
willpower. We've failed again and again. Therefore I believe there must be a
Higher Power which helps me. I think of that power as the grace of God. And I
pray to God every morning for the strength to stay sober today. I know that
power is there because it never fails to help me. Do I believe that AA. works through the grace of God?
Meditation for the Day
Once I am "born of the spirit," that is my life's
breath. Within me is the life of life, so that I can never perish. The life that down the ages has kept God's children through peril,
adversity, and sorrow. I must try never to doubt or worry, but follow
where the life of the spirit leads. How often, when little I know it, God goes
before me to prepare the way, to soften a heart, or to overrule a resentment. As the life of the spirit grows, natural wants
become less important.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that my life may become centered in God more than in
self.
I pray that my will may be directed toward doing His will