~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Change
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"Let us never fear needed change.
Certainly we have to discriminate
between changes for worse
and changes for better.
But once a need becomes clearly
apparent
in an individual, in a group, or in AA
as a whole,
it has long been found out that we
cannot stand still
and look the other way.
The essence of all growth is a
willingness
to change for the better
and then an unremitting willingness
to shoulder whatever responsibility
this entails."
Bill
W., July 1965
c.1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p.
115
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Thought to Consider . . .
Not to change is not to adapt;
not to adapt is to become extinct.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C H A N G E = Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Everyday
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Healing
From "A Lifetime
Process":
"I have more problems than alcohol
. . . alcohol is only a symptom of a more pervasive disease. When I stopped drinking
I began a lifetime process of recovery from unruly emotions, painful
relationships, and unmanageable situations. This process is too much for most
of us without help from a Higher Power and our friends in the Fellowship. . . .
One day at a time, almost imperceptibly, I healed."
© 1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily
Reflections, pg. 105
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
SOLACE FOR CONFUSION
Obviously,
the dilemma of the wanderer from faith is that of profound confusion. He thinks
himself lost to the comfort of any conviction at all. He cannot attain in
even a small degree the assurance of the believer, the agnostic, or the
atheist. He is the bewildered one.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 28
The concept of
God was one that I struggled with during my early years of sobriety. The
images that came to me, conjured from my past, were heavy with fear, rejection
and condemnation. Then I heard my friend Ed's image of a Higher Power: As
a boy he had been allowed a litter of puppies, provided that he assume responsibility for their care. Each morning he
would find the unavoidable "byproducts" of the puppies on the kitchen
floor. Despite frustration, Ed said he couldn't get angry because
"that's the nature of puppies." Ed felt that God viewed our
defects and shortcomings with a similar understanding and warmth. I've
often found solace from my personal confusion in Ed's calming concept of God.
©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD
SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Rebellion or Acceptance
All of us pass through times when we can pray only with the
greatest exertion. Occasionally we go even further than this. We are seized with
a rebellion so sickening that we simply won't pray. When these things happen,
we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as
soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us.
<<<>>>
A man who persists in prayer finds
himself in possession of great gifts. When he has to deal with hard
circumstances, he finds he can face them. He can accept himself and the world
around him.
He can do this because he now accepts a
God who is All - and who loves all. When he says,
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name," he deeply and
humbly means it. When in good meditation and thus freed from the clamors of the
world, he knows that he is in God's hands, that his own ultimate destiny is
really secure, here and hereafter, come what may.
1.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 105 - 2. GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1958
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Our
description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and
our personal adventure before and after
make clear three pertinent
ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could
not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could
have relieved our
alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were
sought."
~Alcoholics
Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 60~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day
For the past few weeks we have been
asking ourselves some searching questions. We have not been able to answer them
all as we would like. But on the right answers to these questions will depend the usefulness and effectiveness of our lives and to
some extent the usefulness and effectiveness of the whole A.A. movement. It all
boils down to this: I owe a deep debt to A.A. and to the grace of God. Am I
going to do all I can to repay that debt? Let us search our souls, make our
decisions, and act accordingly. Any real success we have in life will depend on
that. Now is the time to put our conclusions into effect. What am I going to do
about it?
Meditation for the Day
"Our Lord and our God, be it done
unto us according to Thy will." Simple acceptance of
God's will in whatever happens is the key to abundant living. We must continue
to pray. ..Not my will but Thy will be done." It may not turn out the way
you want it to, but it will be the best way in the long run, because it is
God's way. If you decide to accept whatever happens as God's will for yourself,
whatever it may be, your burdens will be lighter. Try to see in all things some
fulfillment of the Divine Intent.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may see the working out
of God's will in my life.
I pray that I may be content with
whatever He wills for me.