~A.A. Thoughts
For The
Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~~ /)
(
\(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
The Past
"Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the
very thing which makes life seem so worthwhile to us now. Cling to the
thought that, in God's hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you
have--the key to life and happiness for others. With it you can avert
death and misery for them."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 124
Thought to Consider
. . .
Get it - Give it - Grow in
it.
*~*AACRONYMS*~*
PACE
Positive
Attitudes Change
Everything
*~*^Just
For
Today!^*~*
Privacy
From "From
Loneliness to Solitude":
"As the sober weeks go by, we
can enjoy and treasure the few moments of solitude we are able to find in the
rush and hurry of life today. When we cease to fear loneliness and begin to
cherish and use our solitude to advantage, we have come a long way. We realize a
little solitude is necessary to think and to try to work some of the Steps. In
solitude, we take our inventories. In solitude, we admit to ourselves the exact
nature of our wrongs. In solitude, our spirits seek that Power greater than we
are; in solitude, we seek through prayer and meditation to be aware of God's
will for us."
Houston, Texas, USA
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came
to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 109
*^Daily
Reflections^*
OUR GROUP CONSCIENCE
". . . sometimes the good is the
enemy of the best."
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p.
101
I think these words apply to every area of A.A.'s
Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity and Service! I want them etched in my mind
and life as I "trudge the Road of Happy Destiny" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.
164). These words, often spoken by co-founder Bill W., were appropriately
said to him as the result of the group's conscience. It brought home to
Bill W. the essence of our Second Tradition: "Our leaders are but trusted
servants; they do not govern."
Just as Bill W. was originally urged to
remember, I think that in our group discussions we should never settle for the
"good," but always strive to attain the "best." These common strivings are
yet another example of a loving God, as we understand Him, expressing Himself
through the group conscience. Experiences such as these help me to stay on
the proper path of recovery. I learn to combine initiative with humility,
responsibility with thankfulness, and thus relish the joys of living my
twenty-four hour program.Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES,
INC.
*~*^As
Bill
Sees
It^*~*
Review the Day
When we retire at night, we constructively review our
day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe an apology?
Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another
person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done
better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of
what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of
life? We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid
reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to ourselves and to others.
After making our review, we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective
measure should be taken.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 86
*~*^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
Before I met A.A., I was very
unloving. From the time I went away to school, I paid very little attention to
my mother and father, I was on my own and didn't even bother to keep in touch
with them. After I got married, I was very unappreciative of my spouse. Many a
time I would go out all by myself to have a good time. I paid too little
attention to our children and didn't try to understand them or show them
affection. My few friends were only drinking companions, not real friends. Have
I gotten over loving nobody but my self?
Meditation for the Day
Be calm, be true, and be
quiet. Do not get emotionally upset by anything that happens around you. Feel a
deep, inner security in the goodness and purpose in the universe. Be true to
your highest ideals. Do not let yourself slip back into the old ways of
reacting. Stick to your spiritual guns. Be calm always. Do not talk back or
defend yourself too much against accusation, whether false or true. Accept
criticism as well as you accept praise. Only God can judge the real
you.
Prayer for the
Day
I pray
that I may not be upset by the judgment of others. I pray that I may let God be
the judge of the real me.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN
55012