~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Choices
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"Our
necessities are certainly immense and compelling. Each of us must conform reasonably
well
to AA's Steps and
Traditions, or
else we shall go mad or die of alcoholism. Therefore
the compulsion among most of us
to survive and grow soon
becomes far stronger than
the temptation to drink or misbehave. Literally,
we must 'do or die.'
So we make the choice to
live. This, in turn, means the choice of AA
principles, practices,
and attitudes.
This is our first great
and critical choice. Admittedly, this is made under the
fearful and immediate
lash of John Barleycorn,
the killer. Plainly
enough, this first choice is far more a necessity than it is an act of virtue."
Bill W., May 1960
1988AAGrapevine, The
Language of the Heart, pp. 301-2
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Thought to Consider . . .
It
was either AA or amen.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
AA
Attitude Adjustment
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Healing
From
"We Walk This Way":
"Our A.A. friends
also had this positive belief in the child's recovery. They did their best to
revive my fast-dying energies, and these positive forces of loving faith caused
me to reassess my progress in the A.A. program. I was sober, but had I turned
my will over to the care of God as I understood Him? What was I doing about
'conscious contact' with my Higher Power? Was the Tenth Step part of my daily
life or only a once-tried effort?
"Most
of the answers were negative. This meant that, while my daughter might be in a
hopeless situation physically, I was functioning in a way destined to retard
any progress she might make spiritually and mentally. There was no other
solution than to get out of the child's way and work on myself."
1973 AAWS,
Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pgs. 107-08
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
PROGRESSIVE GRATITUDE
Gratitude
should go forward, rather than backward.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 29
I
am very grateful that my Higher Power has given me a second chance to live a
worthwhile life. Through Alcoholics Anonymous, I have been restored to
sanity. The promises are being fulfilled in my life. I am grateful
to be free from the slavery of alcohol. I am grateful for peace of mind
and the opportunity to grow, but my gratitude should go forward rather than
backward. I cannot stay sober on yesterday's meetings or past Twelfth-Step
calls; I need to put my gratitude into action today. Our co-founder said
our gratitude can best be shown by carrying the message to others.
Without action, my gratitude is just a pleasant emotion. I need to put it
into action by working Step Twelve, by carrying the message and practicing the
principles in all my affairs. I am grateful for the chance to carry the
message today!
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
To Take Responsibility
Learning
how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men
and women, of whatever
description, is a moving and
fascinating adventure. But
every A.A. has found that he can make little headway
in this new adventure
of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing
survey
of the human wreckage he
has left in his wake.
<<<>>>
The readiness to take
the full consequences of our past acts, and to take responsibility for the
well-being
of others at the same
time, is the very spirit of Step nine.
TWELVE AND TWELVE
1. P. 77
2. P. 87
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Some day we hope
that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to
a better realization of
the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we
shall be of little use
if our attitude is one of bitterness or
hostility. Drinkers will
not stand for it.
After all, our problems
were of our own making. Bottles were only a
symbol. Besides, we have
stopped fighting anybody or anything. We have to!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With
Others, pg. 103~
*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day
In
twelfth-step work, the third thing is conviction. The prospect must be
convinced that he honestly wants to stop drinking. He must see and admit that
his life is unmanageable. He must face the fact that he must do something about
his drinking. He must be absolutely honest with himself and face himself as he
really is. He must be convinced that he must give up drinking and he must see
that his whole life depends on this conviction. Do I care enough about another
alcoholic to help him reach this conviction?
Meditation
for the Day
There is no limit to what you can accomplish in helping others. Keep
that thought always. Never relinquish any work or give up the thought of any
accomplishment because it seems beyond your power. God will help you all in
good work. Only give it up if you feel that it's not God's will for you. In
helping others, think of the tiny seed under the dark, hard ground. There is no
certainty that, when it has forced its way up to the surface, sunlight and
warmth will greet it. Often a task seems beyond your power, but there is no
limit to what you can accomplish with God's help.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may never become discouraged in helping others.
I pray that I may always rely on the power of God to help me