A Prayer & Some Thoughts - November

[bluidkiti]

November 16


Prayer for Peace and Tolerance

If you believe that a smile is stronger than a weapon
If you believe in the power of a helping hand
If you believe that what unites people is more important than what divides
If you believe that being different is an asset and not a danger
If you look at the other with a little love
If you prefer hope to suspicion
If you estimate that it’s up to you to take the first step, rather than the other
If you share your bread and include a piece of your heart
If you think forgiving goes further than vengeance
if you sing other people’s happiness and dance their joy
If you listen to the unfortunate who makes you waste your time and still keep on smiling
If you accept and adopt an opinion different from yours
If the other is primarily a brother or a sister for you
If, for you, anger is weakness, not a sign of strength
If you believe that Love is the only power of dissuasion
If you believe that Peace is possible
…then, Peace will come.

-- Pierre Guilbert

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Just a Thought

When I found A.A., I thought I was in for a struggle, and that A.A. just might provide the strength I needed to beat alcohol.

Victorious in that fight, on a daily basis, who knows what other battles I could win. Today I do not have to struggle or exert my will. If I take those Twelve Steps and let my Higher Power do the real work, my alcohol problem disappears all by itself. My living problems also cease to be struggles. I just have to ask whether acceptance -- or change -- is required. It is not my will, but His, that needs doing.

So ............

Am I trying to live the Twelve Steps on a daily basis??

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Just a Contemplation

Reflecting

Rainy days let us slow down. We are busy people, driving ourselves to go places and get things done. But rain seems to slow life down. The pressures of the world can drop away for a time while we reflect.

As the rain soaks into the ground, its serenity enters our hearts. Leaves on trees begin to look more green. Plants and flowers are no longer thirsty. When we slow down, we can be comforted by what we have in our hearts, knowing everything is going to be all right.

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Self Reliance

We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn't it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse.

Perhaps there is a better way - we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.

Alcoholics Anonymous Page 68

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Just a Quote

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” -- John Wesley