~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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The Gift

"Perhaps there is a better way -- we think so.
For we are now on a different basis of trusting
and relying upon God.

We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.
We are in the world to play the role He assigns.
Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us,
and humbly rely on Him,
does He enable us to match calamity with serenity
."
   
c.1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68
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Thought to Consider . . .

What I am is God's gift to me.  
What I make of myself is my gift to Him.

 


*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G I F T  =  God Is Forever There

 

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

Work

From "Bill's Story":

"My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, be would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 14-15

 

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
MY CHECKLIST, NOT YOURS

Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by character assassination, has its satisfactions for us, too.  Here we are not trying to help those we criticize; we are trying to proclaim our own righteousness.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.67

Sometimes I don't realize that I gossiped about someone until the end of the day, when I take an inventory of the day's activities, and then, my gossiping appears like a blemish in my beautiful day.  How could I have said something like that?  Gossip shows its ugly head during a coffee break or lunch with business associates, or I may gossip during the evening, when I'm tired from the day's activities, and feel justified in bolstering my ego at the expense of someone else.

Character defects like gossip sneak into my life when I am not making a constant effort to work the Twelve Steps of recovery.  I need to remind myself that my uniqueness is the blessing of my being, and that applies equally to everyone who crosses my path in life's journey. Today the only inventory I need to take is my own.  I'll leave judgement of others to the Final Judge -- Divine Providence.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
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~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Emotional Sobriety

If we examine every disturbance we have, great or small, we will find at the root of it some unhealthy dependency and its consequent unhealthy demand. Let us, with God's help, continually surrender these hobbling liabilities.
Then we can be set free to live and love; we may then be able to twelfth-step ourselves, as well as others, into emotional sobriety.

GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1958
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental
defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither
he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense
must come from a Higher Power."


~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Am I deeply grateful to A.A. for what it has done for me in
regaining my sobriety and opening up an entirely new life for me?
A.A. has made it possible for me to carry on other interests in
business and in various other associations with people. It has made
a full life possible for me. It would perhaps be wrong if all my
activities were limited to A.A. work. it has made a well-rounded
life possible for me in work, in play, and in hobbies of various
kinds. But will I desert A.A. because of this? Will I accept a
diploma and become a graduate of A.A.? Do I realize that I could
have nothing worthwhile without A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

There is only one way to get full satisfaction from life and that
is to live the way you believe God wants you to live. Live with God
in that secret place of the spirit and you will have a feeling of
being on the right road. You will have a deep sense of satisfaction.
The world will have meaning and you will have a place in the world,
work to do that counts in the eternal order of things. Many things
will work for you and with you, as long as you feel you are on
God's side.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have a sense of the eternal value of the work I
do. I pray that I may not only work for now, but also for eternity.