~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Grudges
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"We had to see that every time we played the big shot,
we turned people against us.
We had to see that when we harbored grudges
and planned revenge for such defeats,
we were really hitting ourselves with the club of anger
we had intended to use on others.
We learned that if we were seriously disturbed,
our first need was to quiet that disturbance,
regardless of who or what we thought caused it.."

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 47
Copyright  1952 A.A.W.S. Inc.
Thought to Consider . . .

Anger is the hot wind that extinguishes the light of reason.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A N G E R = Any No Good Energy Rising.

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

Minds

From "Being grateful:"

"The thoughts we choose to spend time on in any given
24 hours can strongly influence the complexion of our
feeling for that day -- bright and healthy or murky and
disheartened.
"Since so much of our thinking used to be intricately
associated with our drinking life-style, we have found it
worthwhile to look closely at our thinking habits and find
different and better ways of using our minds....When we
finally get to visit a place long dreamed of [while traveling],

we can concentrate on the inconveniences...or we can

be grateful that we finally got there at all, and keep adding

to a mental list of the delights we can find if we look

for them."

c. 1975, Living Sober, pages 47-48

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
FINDING "A REASON TO BELIEVE"

The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 171

A line from a song goes, " . . . . and I look to find a reason to
believe . . . " It reminds me that at one time I was not able to
find a reason to believe that my life was all right. Even though
my life had been saved by my coming to A. A., three months later I
went out and drank again. Someone told me: "You don't have to
believe. Aren't you willing to believe that there is a reason for
your life, even though you may not know yourself what that reason
is, or that you may not sometimes know the right way to behave?"
When I saw how willing I was to believe there was a reason for my
life, then I could start to work on the Steps. Now when I begin
with, "I am willing. . . .," I am using the key that leads to
action, honesty, and an openness to a Higher Power moving through my life.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Single-handed Combat

Few indeed are those who, assailed by the tyrant alcohol, have ever won
through in single-handed combat. It is a statistical fact that alcoholics
almost never recover on their personal resources alone.

<<<>>>

'Way up toward Point Barrow in Alaska, a couple of prospectors got themselves a cabin and a case of Scotch. The weather turned bitter, fifty below, and they got so drunk they let the fire go out. Barely escaping death by freezing, one of them woke up in time to rekindle the fire. He was prowling around outside for fuel, and he looked into an empty oil drum filled with frozen water. Down in the ice cake he saw a reddish-yellow object. When thawed out, it was seen to be an A.A. book. One of the pair read the book and sobered up. Legend has it that he became the founder of one of our farthest north groups.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 22 - 2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, pp. 82-83
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"When working with a man and his family, you should take care not to
participate in their quarrels. You may spoil your chance of being
helpful if you do. But urge upon a man's family that he has been a
very sick person and should be treated accordingly. You should warn
against arousing resentment or jealousy. You should point out that
his defects of character are not going to disappear over night. Show
them that he has entered upon a period of growth. Ask them to
remember, when they are impatient, the blessed fact of his sobriety."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 100~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

"Outline the program of action to new prospects, explaining how you
made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past, and why
you are now endeavoring to help them. It is important for them to
realize that your attempt to pass this on to them plays a vital part
in your own recovery. The more hopeless they feel, the better. They
will be more likely to follow your suggestions. Tell them about the
fellowship of A.A. and if they show interest, lend them a copy of
the Big Book." Can I tell the A.A. story to another alcoholic?

Meditation for the Day

You should try to stand aside and let God work through you. You
should try not to block Him off by your own efforts, or prevent
His spirit working through you. God desires your obedient service
and your loyalty to the ideals of the new life you are seeking. If
you are loyal to God, He will give you protection against mistakes.
His spirit will plan for you and secure for you a sufficiency of
all spiritual help. You will have true victory and success, if
you will put yourself in the background and let God work through
you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not interfere with the working of God's spirit in me and through me.

I pray that I may give it full rein.