A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Prayer ^*^*^ "The man said, 'The thing I do is to say "God here I am and here are all my troubles. I've made a mess of things and can't do anything about it. You take me and all my troubles, and do anything you want with me." ' I return to bed. It doesn't make sense. . . I am in the bottom of hell. And there a tremendous hope is born. It might be true. I tumble out of bed on my knees. I know not what I say. But slowly a great peace comes to me. I feel lifted up. I believe in God. I crawl back into bed and sleep like a child." 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 504 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
Faith is not belief without proof; it's trust without reservation.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* A S A P = Always Say A Prayer
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Foundations From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "In important matters there was still considerable disagreement between the Eastern and the Midwestern viewpoints. Our people out there were still active Oxford Group members, while we in New York had withdrawn a year before. In Akron and vicinity they still talked about the Oxford Groups absolutes: absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness, and absolute love. This dose was found to be too rich for New Yorkers, and we had abandoned the expressions. But all of us, East and West, were placing increasing emphasis on Dr. Silkworth's expression describing the alcoholic's dilemma: the obsession plus the allergy. By now we knew from experience that the new prospect had to accept Step One or get no place." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 160-61 *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* THE DETERMINATION OF OUR FOUNDERS
A year and six months later these three had succeeded with seven more.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 159
If it had not been for the fierce determination of our founders, A.A. would have quickly faded like so many other so-called good causes. I look at the hundreds of meetings weekly in the city where I live and I know A.A. is available twenty-four hours a day. If I had had to hang on with nothing but hope and a desire not to drink, experiencing rejection wherever I went, I would have sought the easier, softer way and returned to my previous way of life.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* Coping with Anger
Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely. These "dry benders" often led straight to the bottle. <<<>>> Nothing pays of like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism, furious power-driven argument, sulking, and silent scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengefulness. When we are tempted by the bait, we should train ourselves to step back and think. We can neither think nor act to good purpose until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic.
TWELVE AND TWELVE - 1. P. 90 - 2. P. 91 *~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"...we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132 *~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~* A.A. Thought for the Day
You can prove to yourself that life is basically and fundamentally an inner attitude. just try to remember what troubled you most a week ago. You probably will find it difficult to remember. Why then should you unduly worry or fret over the problems that arise today? Your attitude toward them can be changed by putting yourself and your problems in God's hands and trusting Him to see that everything will turn out all right, provided you are trying to do the right thing. Your changed mental attitude toward your problems relieves you of their burden and you can face them without fear. Has my mental attitude changed?
Meditation for the Day
You cannot see the future. It's a blessing that you cannot. You could not bear to know all the future. That is why God only reveals it to you day by day. The first step each day is to lay your will before God as an offering, ready for God to do what is best for you. Be sure that, if you trust God, what He does for you will be for the best. The second step is to be confident that God is powerful enough to do anything He wills, and that no miracle in human lives is impossible with Him. Then leave the future to God.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may gladly leave my future in God's hands. I pray that I may be confident that good things will happen, as long as I am on the right path.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012
A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Prayer ^*^*^ "The man said, 'The thing I do is to say "God here I am and here are all my troubles. I've made a mess of things and can't do anything about it. You take me and all my troubles, and do anything you want with me." ' I return to bed. It doesn't make sense. . . I am in the bottom of hell. And there a tremendous hope is born. It might be true. I tumble out of bed on my knees. I know not what I say. But slowly a great peace comes to me. I feel lifted up. I believe in God. I crawl back into bed and sleep like a child." 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 504 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
Faith is not belief without proof; it's trust without reservation.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* A S A P = Always Say A Prayer
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Foundations From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "In important matters there was still considerable disagreement between the Eastern and the Midwestern viewpoints. Our people out there were still active Oxford Group members, while we in New York had withdrawn a year before. In Akron and vicinity they still talked about the Oxford Groups absolutes: absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness, and absolute love. This dose was found to be too rich for New Yorkers, and we had abandoned the expressions. But all of us, East and West, were placing increasing emphasis on Dr. Silkworth's expression describing the alcoholic's dilemma: the obsession plus the allergy. By now we knew from experience that the new prospect had to accept Step One or get no place." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 160-61 *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* THE DETERMINATION OF OUR FOUNDERS
A year and six months later these three had succeeded with seven more.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 159
If it had not been for the fierce determination of our founders, A.A. would have quickly faded like so many other so-called good causes. I look at the hundreds of meetings weekly in the city where I live and I know A.A. is available twenty-four hours a day. If I had had to hang on with nothing but hope and a desire not to drink, experiencing rejection wherever I went, I would have sought the easier, softer way and returned to my previous way of life.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* Coping with Anger
Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely. These "dry benders" often led straight to the bottle. <<<>>> Nothing pays of like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism, furious power-driven argument, sulking, and silent scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengefulness. When we are tempted by the bait, we should train ourselves to step back and think. We can neither think nor act to good purpose until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic.
TWELVE AND TWELVE - 1. P. 90 - 2. P. 91 *~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"...we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132 *~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~* A.A. Thought for the Day
You can prove to yourself that life is basically and fundamentally an inner attitude. just try to remember what troubled you most a week ago. You probably will find it difficult to remember. Why then should you unduly worry or fret over the problems that arise today? Your attitude toward them can be changed by putting yourself and your problems in God's hands and trusting Him to see that everything will turn out all right, provided you are trying to do the right thing. Your changed mental attitude toward your problems relieves you of their burden and you can face them without fear. Has my mental attitude changed?
Meditation for the Day
You cannot see the future. It's a blessing that you cannot. You could not bear to know all the future. That is why God only reveals it to you day by day. The first step each day is to lay your will before God as an offering, ready for God to do what is best for you. Be sure that, if you trust God, what He does for you will be for the best. The second step is to be confident that God is powerful enough to do anything He wills, and that no miracle in human lives is impossible
...
~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Discovery ^*^*^ "I knew from that moment that I had an alcoholic mind. I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those strange mental blank spots. I had never been able to understand people who said that a problem had them hopelessly defeated. I knew then. It was a crushing blow." 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 42 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
Sobriety is a choice and a treasure.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Acceptance, and Trust
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Egoism From "Medicine Looks at Alcoholics Anonymous": "The fact of hitting bottom to produce a surrender which cut the ego to size was evident fairly soon. In time two additional facts manifested themselves. The first was that a reduced ego has marvelous recuperative powers. The second was that surrender is an essential disciplinary function and experience. "It is common knowledge that a return of the full-fledged ego can happen at any time. Years of sobriety are no insurance against its resurgence. No A.A., regardless of his veteran status, can ever relax his guard against the encroachments of a reviving ego. Recently one A.A., writing to another, reported that he was suffering, he feared, from 'halo-tosis,' a reference to the smugness and self-complacency which so easily can creep into the individual with years of sobriety behind him. “Dr. Harry Tiebout, M.D." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 249
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* EXPERIENCE: THE BEST TEACHER
Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87
Some say that experience is the best teacher, but I believe that experience is the only teacher. I have been able to learn of God's love for me only by the experience of my dependence on that love. At first I could not be sure of His direction in my life, but now I see that if I am to be bold enough to ask for His guidance, I must act as if He has provided it. I frequently ask God to help me remember that He has a path for me. Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* Meeting Adversity
"Our spiritual and emotional growth in A.A. does not depend so deeply upon success as it does upon our failures and setbacks. If you will bear this in mind, I think that your slip will have the effect of kicking you upstairs, instead of down. "We A.A.'s have had no better teacher than Old Man Adversity, except in those cases where we refuse to let him teach us." <<<>>> "Now and then all of us fall under heavy criticism. When we are angered and hurt, it's difficult not to retaliate in kind. Yet we can restrain ourselves and then probe ourselves, asking whether our critics were really right. If so, we can admit our defects to them. This usually clears the air for mutual understanding. "Suppose our critics are being unfair. Then we can try calm persuasion. If they continue to rant, it is still possible for us--in our hearts--to forgive them. Maybe a sense of humor can be our saving grace--thus we can both forgive and forget."
1. LETTER, 1958 2. LETTER, 1966 *~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Do not be discouraged if your prospect does not respond at once. Search out another alcoholic and try again. You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer. We find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be happy."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 96~
*~*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~* A.A. Thought for the Day
In the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous there were only two persons. Now there are many groups and thousands of members. True, the surface has only been scratched. There are probably ten million or more persons in America alone who need our help. More and more people are making a start in A.A. each day. In the case of individual members, the beginning has been accomplished when they admit they are powerless and turn to a Power greater than them- selves, admitting that their lives have become unmanageable. That Higher Power works for good in all things and helps us to accomplish much in individual growth and in the growth of A.A. groups. Am I doing my part in helping AA. to grow?
Meditation for the Day
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Only in the fullness of faith can the heart-sick and faint and weary be satisfied, healed, and rested. Think of the wonderful spiritual revelations still to be found by those who are trying to live the spiritual life. Much of life is spiritually unexplored country. Only to the consecrated and loving people who walk with God in spirit can these great spiritual discoveries be revealed. Keep going forward and keep growing in righteousness.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not be held back by the material things of the world. I pray that I may let God lead me forward.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012
~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Freedom ^*^*^ "Looking back we see that our freedom to choose badly was not, after all, a very real freedom. When we chose because we 'must,' this was not a free choice either. But it got us started in the right direction. When we chose because we 'ought to' we were really doing better. This time we were earning some freedom, making ourselves ready for more. But when, now and then, we could gladly make right choices without rebellion, holdout, or conflict, then we had our first view of what perfect freedom under God's will could be like." Bill W., May 1960 1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 302 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* F I N E = Free, Independent, New and Energetic
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Acceptance From "Happiness": "Accept the things you cannot change. So simple. If the problem cannot be solved today why, simply drop it. I grant that this is not always easy; it takes self-discipline, a faculty infrequently found in newly sober alcoholics. " New Hartford, New York, USA" 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 111
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* A NATURAL FAITH
. . . deep down in every man, woman and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as old as man himself.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 55
I have seen the workings of the unseen God in A.A. rooms around the country. Miracles of recovery are everywhere in evidence. I now believe that God is in these rooms and in my heart. Today faith is as natural to me, a former agnostic, as breathing, eating and sleeping. The Twelve Steps have helped to change my life in many ways, but none is more effective than the acquisition of a Higher Power.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* Boomerang
When I was ten, I was tall and gawky, and smaller kids could push me around in quarrels. I remember being very depressed for a year or more, and then I began to develop a fierce resolve to win. One day, my grandfather came along with a book about Australia and told me, "This book says that nobody but an Australian bushman knows how to make and throw the boomerang." "Here's my chance," I thought. "I will be the first man in America to make and throw a boomerang." Well, any kid could have had a notion like that. It might have lasted two days or two weeks. But mine was a power drive that kept on for six months, till I made a boomerang that swung around the church yard in front of the house and almost hit my grandfather in the head when it came back. Emotionally, I had begun the fashioning of another sort of boomerang, one that almost killed me later on.
A.A. comes of age, P. 53 *~*~*~*~*^ 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
In Alcoholics Anonymous there is no thought of individual profit. No greed or gain. No membership fees, no dues. Only voluntary contributions of our money and ourselves. All that we hope for is sobriety and regeneration, so that we can live normal, respectable lives and can be recognized by others as men and women willing to do unto others as we would be done by. These things we accomplish by the help of each other, by following the twelve steps and by the grace of God. Am I willing to work for A.A. without material gain to myself?
Meditation For The Day
What is sometimes called by religion as conversion is often only the discovery of God as a friend in need. What is sometimes called religion is often only the experiencing of the help and strength of God's power in our lives. What is sometimes called holiness is often only the invitation of God to be our Friend. As God becomes your friend, you become a friend of others. We experience true human friendship and from this experience we can imagine what kind of Great Friend God can be. We believe Him to be a tireless, selfless, all conquering, miracle-working Friend. We can reach out to the Great Friend and figuratively take His hand in ours.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may think of God as a Great Friend in need. I pray that I may go along with Him.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012
~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Simplicity ^*^*^ "A willingness to do whatever I was told to do simplified the program for me. Study the AA book - don't just read it. They told me to go to meetings, and I still do at every available opportunity, whether I am at home or in some other city. Attending meetings has never been a chore for me. Nor have I attended them with a feeling of just doing my duty. Meetings are both relaxing and refreshing to me after a hard day. They said 'Get active," so I helped whenever I could, and still do." 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 381 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
The ankle-biters of everyday struggles will eat away at me unless I go to meetings and share.
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* A C T I O N = Any Change Toward Improving One's Nature
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Steps From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous": "It might be a long time before readers of the book in distant places and lands could be personally contacted. Therefore our literature would have to be as clear and comprehensive as possible. Our steps would have to be more explicit. There must not be a single loophole through which the rationalizing alcoholic could wiggle out. "Finally I [Bill W.] started to write. I set out to draft more than six steps; how many more I did not know. I relaxed and asked for guidance. With a speed that was astonishing, considering my jangling emotions, I completed the first draft. It took perhaps half an hour. The words kept right on coming. When I reached a stopping point, I numbered the new steps. They added up to twelve." 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 161 *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*~* A NEW DIRECTION
Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly. . . Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.45,85
I hear talk of the "weak-willed" alcoholic, but I am one of the strongest-willed people on earth! I now know that my incredible strength of will is not enough to save my life. My problem is not one of "weakness," but rather of direction. When I, without falsely diminishing myself, accept my honest limitations and turn to God's guidance, my worst faults become my greatest assets. My strong will, rightly directed, keeps me working until the promises of the program become my daily reality.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* "The Only Requirement. . ."
In Tradition Three, A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, "You are an A.A. member if you say so. You can declare yourself in; nobody can keep you out. No matter how low you've gone, no matter how grave your emotional complications--even your crimes--we don't want to keep you out. We just want to be sure that you get the same chance for sobriety that we've had." <<<>>> We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism. We wish to be just as inclusive as we can. never exclusive.
1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 139 2. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1946
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~* "Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. There is no friction among us over such matters."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 28~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~* A.A. Thought for the Day
Until we came into A.A. most of us had tried desperately to stop drinking. We were filled with the delusion that we could drink like our friends. We tried time and again to take it or leave it, but we could do neither. We always lapsed into ceaseless, unhappy drinking. Families, friends, and employers threw up their hands in hurt bewilderment, in despair, and finally in disgust. We wanted to stop. We realized that every reason for drinking was only a crazy excuse. Have I given up every excuse for drinking.?
Meditation for the Day
Many things can upset you and you can easily get off the track. But remember that God is near you all the time, ready to help you if you call on Him. You cannot forever stand against God's will for you, nor can you, forever upset God's plan for your life, even though Gods plan may be postponed by your willfulness and deliberate choice of evil. A whole world of men and women cannot permanently change God's laws nor His purpose for the universe. The sea of life may took very rough to us, but we can believe that our Captain steers the boat on a straight course.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to steer a straight course. I pray that I may accept God's direction in my life's journey.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012
~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Restraint ^*^*^ "It is evident that the harmony, security, and future effectiveness of AA will depend largely upon our maintenance of a thoroughly nonagressive and pacific attitude in all our public relations. This is an exacting assignment, because in our drinking days we were prone to anger, hostility, rebellion and aggression. And even though we are now sober, the old patterns of behavior are to a degree still with us, always threatening to explode on any good excuse. But we know this, and therefore I feel confident that in the conduct of our public affairs we shall always find the grace to exert an effective restraint." Bill W. 1962AAWS, Twelve Concepts for World Service, p. 68 ^*^*^*^*^*
Thought to Consider . . .
Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen. 1953AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p, 91
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* A C T I O N = Any Change Toward Improving One's Nature
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Prayer From "'Ask God for Strength'": "I went to the filthy bathroom and got down on my knees. 'God, teach me to pray,' I begged. I remained there a long time, and when I arose and left the room, I knew I never had to drink again. I came to believe, that day, that God would help me maintain my sobriety. Since then, I've come to believe that He will help me with any problem. "Birmingham, Alabama, USA" 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 36 *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*~* The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 76
When I feel uncomfortable, irritated, or depressed, I look for fear. This "evil and corroding thread" is the root of my distress: Fear of failure; fear of others' opinions; fear of harm, and many other fears. I have found a Higher Power, who does not want me to live in fear and, as a result, the experience of A.A. in my life is freedom and joy. I am no longer willing to live with the multitude of character defects that characterized my life while I was drinking. Step Seven is my vehicle to freedom from these defects. I pray for help in identifying the fear underneath the defect, and then I ask God to relieve me of that fear. This method works for me without fail and is one of the great miracles of my life in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. *~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~* Talk or Action?
In making amends, it is seldom wise to approach an individual who still smarts from our injustice to him, and announce that we have gone religious. This might be called leading with the chin. Why lay ourselves open to being branded fanatics or religious bores? If we do this, we may kill a future opportunity to carry a beneficial message. But the man who hears our amends is sue to be impressed with our sincere desire to set right a wrong. He is going to be more interested in a demonstration of good will than in talk of spiritual discoveries.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 77 *~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, 'This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.'"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~* A.A. Thought for the Day
We tried to study our alcoholic problem, wondering what was the cause of our strange obsession. Many of us took special treatments, hospitalization, even confinement in institutions. In every case, the relief was only temporary. We tried through crazy excuses to convince ourselves that we knew why we drank, but we went on regardless. Finally drinking had gone far beyond even a habit. We had become alcoholics, men and women who had been destroying themselves against their own will. Am I completely free from my alcoholic obsession?
Meditation for the Day
"Ask and ye shall receive." Never let yourself think you cannot do something useful or that you never will be able to accomplish a useful task. The fact is that you can do practically anything in the field of human relationships, if you are willing to call on God's supply of strength. The supply may not be immediately available, because you may not be entirely ready to receive it. But it will surely come when you are properly prepared for it. As you grow spiritually, a feeling of being plentifully supplied by God's strength will possess you and you will be able to accomplish many useful things.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may claim God's supply of strength by my faith in Him. I pray that it shall be given to me according to my faith.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012
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