Thoughts For The Day~*~Change ^*^*^ October 20
TransitionsDaily
~A.A. Thoughts
For
The Day~
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Change
"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 A.A. 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.1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It,
p. 115
Thought
to Consider . . .
Not to change is not to adapt;
not to adapt is to
become extinct.
*~*AACRONYMS*~*
A N O N Y M O U S
Actions, Not Our Names,
Yield Maintenance Of Unity and Service
*~*^Just
For
Today!^*~*
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous,
are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly
hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we
have recovered is the main purpose of this book. For them, we hope these
pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary.
We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand
the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person.
And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for
all.
2001 AAWS Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous, page
xiii
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."
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"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.
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