~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Humility
Every newcomer in AA is told, and soon realizes for himself, that his humble admission of powerlessness
over alcohol is his first step toward liberation from its paralyzing grip. So it is that we first see humility as a necessity. But this is the barest beginning. . . A whole lifetime geared to self-centeredness
cannot be set in reverse all at once. Rebellion dogs our every step at first.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 72-3
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Thought to Consider . . .
Many people haven't even a nodding acquaintance
with humility as a way of life.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T R U S T  =  Teaching Recovery Using Steps and Traditions

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

Perspective

From "Serving My Brother:"

"Today I may very well have to deal with disagreeable attitudes or utterances -- the typical stock-in-trade attitude of the still-suffering alcoholic.  If this should happen, I will take a moment to center myself in God, so that I will be able to respond from a perspective of composure, strength and sensibility."

c. 1990, Daily Reflections, page 29

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*

When Faith is Missing

Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had

any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting.  They have tried the way of

faith and the way of no faith.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.  28

I was so sure God had failed me that I became ultimately defiant, though I knew better, and plunged into a final drinking binge.  My faith turned bitter and that was no coincidence.  Those who once had great faith hit bottom harder.  It took time to rekindle my faith, though I came to A.A. I was grateful intellectually to have survived such a great fall, but my heart felt callous.  Still, I stuck with the A.A.  program; the alternatives were too bleak!  I kept coming back and gradually my faith was resurrected.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Suffering Transmuted

"While A.A. has restored thousands of poor Christians to their churches, and has made believers out of atheists and agnostics, it has also made good A.A.'s out of those belonging to the Buddhist, Islamic, and Jewish faiths. For example, we question very much whether our Buddhist members in Japan would ever have joined this Society had A.A. officially stamped itself a strictly Christian movement. "You can easily convince yourself of this by imagining that A.A. started among the Buddhists and that they then told you you couldn't join them unless you became a Buddhist, too. If you were a Christian alcoholic under these circumstances, you might well turn your face to the wall and die."

LETTER, 1954
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"...I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I
would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my
problems. Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness,
honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of
things, were the essential requirements."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, Page 13~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Treating others to drinks gave us a kind of satisfaction. We liked to say, "Have a drink on me." But we were not really doing the other people a favor. We were only helping them to get drunk, especially if they happened to be alcoholic. In A.A. we really try to help other alcoholics. We build them up instead of tearing them down. Drinking created a sort of fellowship. But it really was a false fellowship, because it was based on selfishness. We used our drinking companions for our own pleasure. In A.A. we have real fellowship, based on unselfishness and a desire to help each other. And we make real friends, not fair-weather friends. With sobriety, have I got everything that drinking's got, without the headaches?

Meditation for the Day

I know that God cannot teach anyone who is trusting in a crutch. I will throw away the crutch of alcohol and walk in God's power and spirit. God's power will so invigorate me that I shall indeed walk on to victory. There is never any limit to God's power. I will go step by step, one day at a time. God's will shall be revealed to me as I go forward.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have more and more dependence on God.

I pray that I may throw away my alcoholic crutch and let God's power take its place.