~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
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Inventory
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"A few months after I made
my original trip to Akron I was feeling pretty cocky,
and I didn't think my
wife was treating me with proper respect, now that I
was an outstanding
citizen. So I set out to get drunk deliberately,
just to teach her what
she was missing. A week later, I had to get an old friend from Akron
to spend two days
sobering me up. That was my lesson, that one could not
take the moral inventory
and then file it away; that the alcoholic has to continue to take
inventory every day
if he expects to get
well and stay well."
1976, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 293-4
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Thought to Consider . . .
In order to recover we have to uncover.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F
A I T H =
Facing All In Trusting Him
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Practice
It
from:
"His Spiritual Quest"
"As Dr. Bob himself said, ‘I don’t
think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice it. And I
don't believe we do A.A. too well unless we practice it…. We should
practice…acquiring the spirit of service. We should attempt to acquire some
faith, which isn't easily done, especially for the person who has always been
very materialistic, following the standards of society today. But I think faith
can be acquired; it can be acquired slowly; it has to be cultivated. That was
not easy for me, and I assume that it is difficult for everyone else….’"
1980, AAWS, Inc., Dr. Bob and
the Good Oldtimers, page 307-308
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
TOWARD PEACE AND SERENITY
.
. .when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed
them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking
about humility commences to have a wider meaning.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 74
When
situations arise which destroy my serenity, pain often motivates me to ask God
for clarity in seeing my part in the situation. Admitting my powerlessness, I
humbly pray for acceptance. I try to see how my character defects contributed
to the situation. Could I have been more patient? Was I intolerant?
Did I insist on having my own way? Was I afraid? As my defects are
revealed, I put self-reliance aside and humbly ask God to remove my
shortcomings. The situation may not change, but as I practice exercising
humility, I enjoy the peace and serenity which are the natural benefits of placing
my reliance in a power greater than myself.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
The Beginning of Humility
"There
are few absolutes inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most Steps are open to
interpretation,
based on the
experience and outlook of the individual.
"Consequently, the
individual is free to start the /steps at whatever point
he can, or will. God, as
we understand Him, may be defined as a Power
greater or the Higher
Power. For thousands of members, the A.A. group
itself has been a Higher
Power in the beginning. This acknowledgment is
easy to make if a
newcomer knows that most of the members are sober and he isn't.
"His admission is
the beginning of humility at least the newcomer is willing to disclaim that he
himself is God. That's all the start he needs. If, following this achievement,
he will relax and practice as many of the Steps
as he can, he is sure
too grow spiritually."
LETTER, 1966
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: 'Once
an
alcoholic, always an
alcoholic.' Commencing to drink after a period
of sobriety, we are in a
short time as bad as ever."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About
Alcoholism, pg. 33
*~*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*
A.A. Thought For The Day
We in Alcoholics Anonymous
do not enter into theological discussions,
but
in carrying our message we attempt to explain the simple "how" of
the
spiritual life. How faith in a Higher Power can help you to
overcome
loneliness, fear, and anxiety. How it can help you get along
with
other people. How it can make it possible for you to rise above
pain,
sorrow, and despondency. How it can help you to overcome your
desires
for the things that destroy. Have I reached a simple, effective faith?
Meditation for the Day
Expect
miracles of change in people's lives. Do not be held back by
unbelief.
People can be changed and they are often ready and waiting
to
be changed. Never believe that human nature cannot be changed.
We
see changed people everyday. Do you have the faith to make
those
changes possible? Modern miracles happen every day in the
lives
of people. All miracles are in the realm of personalities. Human
nature
can be changed and is always being changed. But we must
have
enough faith so that we can be channels for God's strength into the lives of
others.
Prayer for the Day
I
pray that I may have the faith to expect miracles.
I pray that I may be used by God to help change the lives of others.