~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Fellowship
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"We were still trying to
find emotional security
by being dominating or
dependent upon others.
Even when our fortunes
had not ebbed that much
and we nevertheless
found ourselves alone in the world,
we still vainly tried to
be secure by some unhealthy
kind of domination or
dependence.
For those of us who were
like that,
AA had a very special
meaning.
Through it we begin to
learn right relations
with people who
understand us;
we don't have to be
alone any more."
©1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp.
116-17
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Thought to Consider . . .
Who we are is God's gift to us.
Who we become is our
gift to God.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
Y
A N A =
You Are Not Alone.
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Egotism
Step
Seven: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
"We could actually
have earnest religious beliefs which remained barren because we were still
trying to play God ourselves. As long as we placed self-reliance first, a
genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic
ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God’s will, was
missing."
© 2005,
AAWS, Inc.; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 72
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
FALSE PRIDE
Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations
of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His
help.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.75
Many false notions operate in false pride.
The need for direction to live a decent life is satisfied by the hope
experienced in the A.A. Fellowship. Those who have walked the way for years - a day at a time - say that a God-centered life has
limitless possibilities for personal growth. This being so, much hope is
transmitted by the elder A.A.s.
I thank my Higher Power
for letting me know that He works through other people, and I thank Him for our
trusted servants in the Fellowship who aid new members to reject their false
ideals and to adopt those which lead to a life of compassion and trust.
The elders in A.A. challenge the newcomers to "Come To" - so that
they can "Come to Believe." I ask my Higher Power to help my
unbelief.
©Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Arrogance and It's Opposite
A very tough-minded prospect was taken to his first A.A.
meeting, where two
speakers (or maybe
lecturers) themed their talks on "God as I understand
Him." Their
attitude oozed arrogance. In fact, the final speaker got far
overboard on his
personal theological convictions. Both were repeating my
performance of years
before. Implicit in everything they said was the same
idea: "Folks,
listen to us. We have the only true brand of A.A. - and you'd
better get it!" The
new prospect said he'd had it -- and he had. His sponsor
protested that this
wasn't real A.A. But it was too late, nobody could
touch
him after that.
<<<>>>
I see "humility for
today" as a safe and secure stance midway between violent emotional
extremes. It is a quiet place where I can keep enough perspective and enough
balance to take my next small step up the clearly marked road that points toward eternal values.
GRAPEVINE 1. APRIL 1961 - 2. JUNE 1961
Somehow, being
alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person.
Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden,
our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical. When we are honest
with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and
with God.
12x12, p. 60
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he
needs to
do is to keep sober.
Certainly he must keep sober, for there will be
no home if he doesn't.
But he is yet a long way from making good to
the wife or parents whom
for years he has so shockingly treated."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 82
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought
for the Day
Two things can spoil group unity -- gossip and criticism. To
avoid these
divisive things, we must
realize that we're all in the same boat. We're like
a group of people in a
lifeboat after the steamer has sunk. If we're going to
be saved, we've got to
pull together. It’s a matter of life or death for us.
Gossip and criticism are
sure ways of disrupting any A.A. group. We're all in
A.A. to keep sober
ourselves and to help each other to keep sober. And
neither gossip nor
criticism helps anyone to stay sober. Am I often guilty of
gossip or criticism?
Meditation for the Day
We should try to be
grateful for all the blessings we have received and which
we do not deserve.
Gratitude to God for all His blessings will make us
humble. Remember that we
could do little by ourselves, and now we must rely largely on God's grace in
'helping ourselves and others. People do not care much for those who are smug
and self-satisfied or those who gossip and
criticize. But people
are impressed by true humility. So we should try to
walk humbly at all
times. Gratitude to God and true humility is what makes us effective.
Prayer
for the Day
I pray that I may walk
humbly with God.
I pray that I may rely on His grace to carry me.