~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
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Foundation
There is a direct linkage among
self-examination,
meditation, and prayer.
Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and
benefit.
but when they are logically related and interwoven,
the result is an unshakable foundation
for life.
c.
1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 98
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Thought to Consider . . .
Prayer is asking a question.
Meditation is listening for the answer.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A S A P = Always Say A Prayer.
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Ego
Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
"'How we loved to shout the damaging fact that millions of the "good men of religion" were still killing one another off in the name of God. This all meant, of course, that we had substituted negative for positive thinking. After we came to A.A., we had to recognize that this trait had been an ego-feeding proposition. In belaboring the sins of some religious people, we could feel superior to all of them. Moreover, we could avoid looking at some of our own shortcomings. Self-righteousness, the very thing that we had contemptuously condemned in others, was our own besetting evil. … "'As psychiatrists have often observed, defiance is the outstanding characteristic of many an alcoholic. So it's not strange that lots of us have had our day at defying God Himself.'"
© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 30-31
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A UNIQUE STABILITY
Where does
A.A. get its direction? . . . These practical folk then read Tradition Two, and
learn that
the sole authority in A.A. is a loving God
as He may express Himself in the group conscience. . .
.
The elder statesman is the one who sees
the wisdom of the group's decision, who holds no resentment
over his reduced status, whose judgment,
fortified by considerable experience, is sound, and who is
willing to sit quietly on the sidelines
patiently awaiting developments.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE
TRADITIONS, pp. 132, 135
Into the fabric of recovery from alcoholism
are woven the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions.
As my recovery progressed, I realized
that the new mantle was tailor-made for me. The elders of the
group gently offered suggestions when change seemed
impossible. Everyone's shared experiences
became the substance for treasured
friendships. I know that the Fellowship is ready and equipped to
aid each suffering alcoholic at all
crossroads in life. In a world beset by many problems, I find this
assurance a unique stability. I cherish
the gift of sobriety. I offer God my gratitude for the strength I
receive in a Fellowship that truly exists for the good of all members.
©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Righteous Indignation
"The
positive value of righteous indignation is theoretical - especially for
alcoholics. It leaves every one of us open to the rationalization that we may be
as angry as we like provided we can claim to be righteous about it."
<<<>>>
When we
harbored grudges and planned revenge for defeats, we were really beating
ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned
that if we were seriously disturbed, our very first need was to quiet that
disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought
caused it.
1.
LETTER, 1954 - 2 .TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 47
Copyright®1967 Alcoholics Anonymous
World Services, Inc.
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Putting
out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely
looked for our own mistakes. Where had
we been selfish, dishonest,
self-seeking and frightened? Though a
situation had not been entirely
our fault, we tried to disregard the other
person involved entirely.
Where were we to blame? The inventory
was ours, not the other man's.
When we saw our faults we listed them.
We placed them before us in
black and white. We admitted our wrongs
honestly and were willing to
set these matters straight."
~Alcoholics
Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 67~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day
When we came into A.A., the first thing
we did was to admit that we couldn't do anything about our drinking. We admitted
that alcohol had us licked and that we were helpless against it. We never could
decide whether or not to take a drink. We always took the drink. And since we
couldn't do anything about it ourselves, we put our whole drink problem into
the hands of God. We turned the whole thing over to that Power greater than
ourselves. And we have nothing more to do about it, except to trust God to take
care of the problem for us. Have I done this honestly and fully?
Meditation for the Day
This is the time for my spirit to touch the
spirit of God. I know that the feeling of the spirit-touch is more important
than all the sensations of material things. I must seek a silence of
spirit-touching with God. Just a moments contact and all the fever of life
leaves me. Then I am, well, whole, calm, and able to rise and minister to
others. God's touch is a potent healer. I must feel that touch and sense God's
presence.
Prayer for the Day
I pray
that the fever of resentment, worry, and fear may melt into nothingness.
I pray that health, joy, peace, and serenity may take its place