~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Martyrdom
S
elf-pity is one of the most unhappy and consuming defects that we know. It is a bar to all

spiritual progress  and can cut off all effective communication with our fellows because of its

inordinate demands for attention and sympathy. It is a maudlin form of martyrdom; which we can ill afford.
Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967 AAWS, As
Bill Sees It, p. 238

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Thought to Consider . . .

Poor me!  Poor me!  Pour me a drink.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*


N U T S =  Not Using The Steps

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

 

Peace

From "Infinite Need":

"In practice, I have always found it rather difficult to let Allah's superior and flawless will prevail in my life and govern my will. However, when I make humble efforts, serenely accepting His will for me at some moment in my life, I feel absolutely relieved of the load I have carried on my shoulders. The mind does not wander any more [sic], and the heart is full of happiness at every breath I take."  Karachi, Pakistan

 

 1973 AAWS, Inc., printed 2004; Came to Believe, pg. 21

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
GETTING THE "SPIRITUAL ANGLE"

How often do we sit in AA meetings and hear the speaker declare, "But I haven't yet got the spiritual angle." Prior to this statement, he had described a miracle of transformation which had occurred in him -- not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his whole attitude toward life and the living of it.  It is apparent to nearly everyone else present that he has received a great gift;  " .  .  .  except that he doesn't seem to know it yet!"  We well know that this questioning individual will tell us six months or a year hence that he has found faith in God.

LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p.  275

A spiritual experience can be the realization that a life which once seemed empty and devoid of meaning is now joyous and full.  In my life today, daily prayer and meditation, coupled with living the Twelve Steps, has brought about an inner peace and feeling of belonging which was missing when I was drinking.

 

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
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~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Material Achievement

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that to satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.
We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.
In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfactions were simply by-products and not the chief aims of life
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*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"All these, and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot
start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This
phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an
allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a
distinct entity. It has never been, by any treatment with which we
are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to
suggest is entire abstinence.

This immediately precipitates us into a seething caldron of debate.
Much has been written pro and con, but among physicians, the general
opinion seems to be that most chronic alcoholics are doomed."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxx~


*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

In the past, we kept right on drinking in spite of all the trouble we got into. We were foolish enough to believe that drinking could still be fun in spite of everything that happened to us. When we came into A.A., we found a lot of people who, like ourselves, had had fun with drinking, but who now admitted that liquor had become nothing but trouble for them. And when we found that this thing had happened to a lot of other people besides ourselves, we realized that perhaps we weren't such odd ducks after all. Have I learned to admit that for me drinking has ceased to be fun and has become nothing but trouble?

Meditation for the Day

The lifeline, the line of rescue, is the line from the soul to God. On one end of the lifeline is our faith and on the other end is God's power. It can be a strong line and no soul can be overwhelmed who is linked to God by it. I will trust in this lifeline and never be afraid. God will save me from doing wrong and from the cares and troubles of life. I will look to God for help and trust Him for aid when I am emotionally upset.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that no lack of trust or fearfulness will make me disloyal to God.

 I pray that I may keep a strong hold on the lifeline of faith.