AA Thoughts For Today - April

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

April 1

Tradition Three
“The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

Why did A.A. finally drop all its membership regulations? . . . The answer,
now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself. At last experience taught
us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce
his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared
to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother? As group after group
saw these possibilities, they finally abandoned all membership regulations.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Tradition Three) p. 141

Thought to Ponder . . .
God grant that AA may ever stay simple.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = All Accepted

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Prayer
"In AA we have found that the actual
good results of prayer are beyond question.
They are matters of knowledge and experience.
All those who have persisted have found
strength not ordinarily their own.
They have found wisdom beyond their
usual capability.
And they have increasingly found a peace of mind
which can stand firm in the face of
difficult circumstances."

Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 104
As Bill Sees It, p. 127

Thought to Consider . . .
Trying to pray is praying.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
PUSH
Pray Until Something Happens

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

Depression
Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
"If temperamentally we are on the depressive side, we are apt to be swamped with guilt and self-loathing. We wallow in
this messy bog, often getting a misshapen and painful pleasure out of it. As we morbidly pursue this melancholy activity,
we may sink to such a point of despair that nothing but oblivion looks possible as a solution. Here, of course, we have
lost all perspective, and therefore all genuine humility. For this is pride in reverse. This is not a moral inventory at all; it is
the very process by which the depressive has so often been led to the bottle and extinction."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 45

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Despite the happy transcendence of the difficulties of yesterday and of today, we nevertheless deeply realize that our
negative traits are still with us, and always will be. Therefore our constant responsibility should be that of taking a
fearless inventory of our defects as we go along, the better to undertake their mending."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1965
"Responsibility Is Our Theme"
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"How dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of
my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call
the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and
usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 8

Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.’s speak the language of the heart in all its power and simplicity.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. xxiv

With a proper display of honesty and morality, we’d stand a better chance of getting what we really wanted.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 72

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

'Courage and Prudence'
When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a
God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.
Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of
recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony,
effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved.
'Prudence is rational concern without worry.' 1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962 - 2. TWELVE CONCEPTS, P. 65 - TALK, 1966

Prayer For The Day - Lord, Help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that you and I together can't handle. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

April 2

Entire Confidence

Strangely enough, wives, parents and intimate friends usually find us
even more unapproachable than do the psychiatrist and the doctor.
But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is
properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire
confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an
understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 18

Thought to Ponder . . .
Faith is our greatest gift; its sharing with
others is our greatest responsibility.

AA-related 'Alconym'
E S & H = Experience, Strength and Hope.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Humility
"Our AA program is spiritually centered.
Most of us have found enough humility
to believe in and depend upon God.
We have found that humility by facing the fact
that alcoholism is a fatal malady
over which we are individually powerless."
Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, September 1945
The Language of the Heart, p. 7

Thought to Consider . . .
Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
YET
You'll End UpThere

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

Powerless
From "The Vicious Cycle":
"When I finally got Hank on the telephone he fired me right then. This was when I really took my first good look at myself.
My loneliness was worse than it had ever been before, for now even my own kind had turned against me. This time it
really hurt, more than any hangover ever had. My brilliant agnosticism vanished, and I saw for the first time that those
who really believed, or at least honestly tried to find a Power greater than themselves, were much more composed and
contented than I had ever been, and they seemed to have a degree of happiness I had never known."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 228-29

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"For all the slow mornings, there are just as many when I arise with an open mind, willing to see what God has in store
for me that day. Every chapter of self-pity ends when I am willing to abandon my pride and reach out to another alcoholic."
Xian, China, October 1994
"Distilled Spirits,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They
arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of
self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

"It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected,
and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute
and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have
happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above
all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure
they will come."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 153~

Even the chief architect, standing in the ruins of his dream, could laugh at himself – and that is the very acme of humility.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 149

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

When I was tired and couldn't concentrate, I used to fall back on an affirmation toward life that took the form of simple
walking and deep breathing. I sometimes told myself that I couldn't do even this--that I was too weak. But I learned that
this was the point at which I could not give in without becoming still more depressed.
So I would set myself a small stint. I would determine to walk a quarter of a mile. And I would concentrate by counting
my breathing--say, six steps to each slow inhalation and four to each exhalation. Having done the quarter-mile, I found
that I could go on, maybe a half-mile more. Then another half-mile, and maybe another.
This was encouraging. The false sense of physical weakness would leave me (this feeling being so characteristic of
depressions). The walking and especially the breathing were powerful affirmations toward life and living and away from
failure and death. The counting represented a minimum discipline in concentration, to get some rest from the wear and
tear of fear and guilt. LETTER, 1960

Prayer For The Day: Guide me Lord. You are my heart. You are my strength. You are my hope. Teach me Lord, and
guide my way. I love You more each passing day. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

April 3

Step Five

Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain
facts about their lives. Trying to avoid this humbling experience, they
have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having
persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell.
We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning.
They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) pp. 72 - 73

Thought to Ponder . . .
We must be entirely honest with somebody if
we expect to live long or happily in this world.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Open Mind
"To get sober and to stay sober,
all you really need is a truly open mind.
Just resign from the debating society and
quit bothering yourself with such deep questions
as whether it was the hen or the egg that came first.
Again I say, all you need is the open mind."
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 26

Thought to Consider . . .
Minds are like parachutes -
they won't work unless they're open.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
ABC Acceptance, Belief, Change

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

Publicity
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"Meanwhile, a great tide of public approval, stimulated by A.A.'s friends of press, radio, and in recent times television,
began to sweep in upon us and it has never ceased. Each month a clipping service feeds our Headquarters
scrapbooks with a very large amount of material. Writers constantly ask Headquarters to check their manuscripts. A.A.
members are helped to appear anonymously on radio and TV programs. The making of arrangements for publicity has
become a constantly increasing activity of our A.A. office. How many lives have been saved, how many years of misery
have thus been averted for thousands of alcoholics and their families, only God knows."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 206-07

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"In AA ... I was once again able to hear the sounds of nature. I looked at a pine tree one day and began to cry at how
beautiful it was. I learned to laugh again."
Marina, California, October 1994
"Birches,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of
drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be
the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us
or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~

"An alcoholic in his cups is an unlovely creature."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 16~

For it is only by accepting and solving our problems that we can begin to get right with ourselves and with the world
about us and with Him who presides over us all.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 125

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Atmosphere of Grace
Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food,
or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away
from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.
As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul. We all need the light of God's reality, the
nourishment of His strength, and the atmosphere of His grace. To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this
ageless truth. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 97-98

Prayer For The Day: A Prayer for Being Grateful - Lord God, may we be grateful for our lot, and compassionate toward
all those who are suffering every kind of distress at this difficult time. May we hold back nothing, and hasten to be the
ministers of prayer and mercy, like the disciples of Him who went about doing good in times of need.

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AA Thought for the Day

April 4

Under No Condition

Under no condition do we criticize such a person or argue.
Simply we tell him that we will never get over drinking until
we have done our utmost to straighten out the past. We are
there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing
worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying
to tell him what he should do. His faults are not discussed.
We stick to our own.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) pp. 77 - 78

Thought to Ponder . . .
Don't mess up an amend with an excuse.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A G O = Another Growth Opportunity.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Sunlight
"When the thought was expressed to me
that there might be a God personal to me,
I didn't like the idea.
So my friend Ebby made what then seemed
a novel suggestion.
He said, 'Why don't you choose
your own conception of God?'
That statement hit me hard.
It melted the icy intellectual mountain
in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years.
I stood in the sunlight at last."
Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12
As Bill Sees It, p. 313

Thought to Consider . . .
Joy isn't the absence of pain-- it's the presence of God.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
LET GO
Leave Everything To God, Okay?

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

Release
From "On a Winter Day":
"I knew I had to have a new beginning, and this beginning had to be here. I could not start anywhere else. I had to let go
of the past and forget the future. As long as I held on to the past with one hand and grabbed at the future with the other
hand, I had nothing to hold on to today with. So I had to begin here, now.
"The next time I went back to my A.A. group, the "happy hypocrites" looked different to me. I began to see love in their
eyes, a greater warmth than I had ever seen before. I mentioned it to my sponsor, and he said, 'The reason you see
love in these people's eyes is because you are beginning to love them. The love that we see in their eyes is the
reflection of our own love. We have got to love to be loved.'--Decatur, Georgia"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 46

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I am responsible as a trusted servant to be informed -- my group expects and deserves that. That responsibility
requires me to take action, to do some reading, and to find out what the principles say -- not what I think ... The beautiful
thing about AA is that we don't have to reinvent the wheel. We have directions and guidelines that we can follow; they
were hammered out on the anvil of experience by those who have gone before us."
San Carlos, California, October 1994
"The Anvil of Experience,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for
alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the
maintenance of our spiritual condition. Pg. 85 - Into Action

"God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors,
psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to
take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give
freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 133~

Prayer is the raising of the heart and mind to God – and in this sense it includes meditation.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 102

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

...In All Our Affairs
The chief purpose of A.A. is sobriety. We all realize that without sobriety we have nothing.
However, it is possible to expand this simple aim into a great deal of nonsense, so far as the individual member is
concerned. Sometimes we hear him say, in effect, 'Sobriety is my sole responsibility. After all, I'm a pretty fine chap,
except for my drinking. Give me sobriety, and I've got it made!'
As long as our friend clings to this comfortable alibi, he will make so little progress with his real life problems and
responsibilities that he stands in a fair way to get drunk again. This is why A.A.'s Twelfth Step urges that we 'practice
these principles in all our affairs.' We are not living just to be sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to love. LETTER, 1966

Prayer For The Day: May all I do today begin with you, O Lord. Plant dreams and hopes within my soul and revive my tired spirit: be with me today. Be at my side and walk with me; be my support, that your hand may be seen in every action I take, that your goodness may be in every word I speak, and that your spirit may inhabit my every thought. Make my thoughts, my work, and my very life blessings for your kingdom. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

April 5

Merriment

So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness. Outsiders
are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly
tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn’t we laugh? We have
recovered, and have been given the power to help others.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. 132

Thought to Ponder . . .
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H O P E = Happy Our Program Exists.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Virtues
"We of AA are apt sometimes to brag
of the virtues of our fellowship.
Let us remember that none of these are earned virtues.
We have been forced into them, to begin with,
by the cruel lash of John Barleycorn.
We have adopted these attitudes, these practices,
this structure, not at first because we wished to
but because we had to.
But today I think we stand
willing to conform permanently and gladly
to the principles which experience,
under the grace of God,
has taught us."
Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 224

Thought to Consider . . .
Unless I accept my virtues,
I will be overwhelmed with my faults.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
LET GO
Leave Everything To God, Okay?

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

Traditions
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"You will remember that episode back in our living room on Clinton Street. That was the time when my group told me I
could never become an A.A. professional. With nearly every Tradition much the same thing has happened. At
first, I obeyed because I had to; I would have lost my standing in A.A. if I had not. After a while I began to obey because I
saw that the Traditions were wise and right. While I conformed because it was right to do, I still resisted inwardly.
"This was particularly true of anonymity. Today I hope I have come to a time in my A.A. life when I can obey because I
really want to obey, because I really want the Traditions for myself as well as for A.A. as a whole."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 136

[B]*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"My basic flaw had always been dependence -- almost absolute dependence -- on people or circumstances to supply
me with prestige, security, and the like. Failing to get these things according to my perfectionist dreams and
specifications, I had fought for them. And when defeat came, so did my depression."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., January 1958
"The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety"
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get
well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in
God and clean house."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 98~

"Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
thought of others and how we may help meet their needs."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 20

We become as open-minded to conviction and as willing to listen as the dying can be.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 24

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Spiritual Kindergarten
We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect. Each man's theology has to be his own quest, his own affair.
When the Big Book was being planned, some members thought that it ought to be Christian in the doctrinal sense. Others had no objection to the use of the word 'God,' but wanted to avoid doctrinal issues. Spirituality, yes. Religion, no. Still others wanted a psychological book, to lure the alcoholic in. Once in, he could take God or leave Him alone as he wished.
To the rest of us this was shocking, but happily we listened. Our group conscience was at work to construct the most acceptable and effective book possible.
Every voice was playing its appointed part. Our atheists and agnostics widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.
1. LETTER, 1954
2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, PP. 162, 163, 167

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I praise you for all of Your goodness to us as Your children. I am blessed to know You and to follow You. Lord, help me to make wise decisions in all the things that I daily face. Give me Your love for all that I meet. Lord, in all of my affairs, help me not to procrastinate in dealing with the responsibilities that are before me. I do need Your guidance to know the things that should be priorities in my life, as sometime I do not know what needs to be taken care of first. Help me, in all my daily activities at home and at the office, to demonstrate Your nature. I ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

April 6

Willing

We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. "Do I now believe,
or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?"
As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe,
we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 47

Thought to Ponder . . .
Faith dares the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A B C = Accept, Begin, Continue.

*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Working With Others
"Life will take on a new meaning.
To watch people recover, to see them help others,
to watch loneliness vanish,
to see a fellowship grow up about you,
to have a host of friends--
this is an experience you must not miss.
We know you will not want to miss it.
Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other
is the bright spot of our lives."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89

Thought to Consider . . .
Service is spirituality in action.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
HELP
Hope, Encouragement, Love and Patience

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

Need
From "An Open Heart":
"Each day that I try to have a desire to be sober and to remember to keep an open heart, love and help flow into me.
These bounties are unlimited in A.A. if we are fortunate enough to have the desire."
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 51

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The good news is that anyone can become an old-timer if they're willing to be willing to change and follow some direction."
Menifee, California, July 2011
"A Matter of Time,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"If there be divorce or separation, there should be no undue haste
for the couple to get together. The man should be sure of his
recovery. The wife should fully understand his new way of life. If
their old relationship is to be resumed it must be on a better basis,
since the former did not work. This means a new attitude and spirit
all around. Sometimes it is to the best interests of all concerned
that a couple remain apart. Obviously, no rule can be laid down.
Let the alcoholic continue his program day by day. When the time for
living together has come, it will be apparent to both parties."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 99~

" I had always believed in a Power greater that myself. I had often
pondered these things. I was not an atheist. Few people really are, for
that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe
originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes no where."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 10~

They do not drive by mandate; they lead by example.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 135

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

When Defects Are Less than Deadly
Practically everybody wishes to be rid of his most glaring and destructive handicaps. No one wants to be so proud that he is scorned as a braggart, nor so greedy that he is labeled a thief. No one wants to be angry enough to ruin his health. No one wants to be agonized by chronic envy or paralyzed by sloth.
Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at these rock-bottom levels, and we who have escaped such extremes are apt to congratulate ourselves. Yet can we? After all, Hasn't it been self-interest that has enabled most of us to escape? Not much spiritual effort is involved in avoiding excesses which will bring us punishment anyway. But when we face up to the less violent aspects of these very same defects, where do we stand then? TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 66

Prayer For The Day: Lord, inspire me to give of my best and make good use of the talents you have given me. Show me how to be positive in attitude, appreciating and valuing others, always being ready to encourage and give praise. Sometimes I draw conclusions about people in terms of what I think is meant by “success” and “failure”, but the “failure” of one person might count as a great “success” of someone with other talents. Lead me never to judge people but to accept others as they are, knowing that it is together, each with our differences, that we build up your Kingdom. Amen.