AA Thought For Today - February

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AA Thought for the Day

February 1

Paradox
3. WE SUFFER TO GET WELL.
There is no way to escape the terrible suffering of remorse and regret and shame
and embarrassment which starts us on the road to getting well from our affliction.
There is no new way to shake out a hangover. It's painful. And for us, necessarily so. . .
We suffer to get well.
- Experience, Strength & Hope, p. 156

Thought to Ponder . . .
We surrender to win; we give away to keep;
we suffer to get well; we die to live.

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

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

Fear
Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing.
It seems to cause more trouble.
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.
c. 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 67-8

Thought to Consider . . .
Situations I fear are rarely as bad as the fear itself.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F E A R = Forgetting Everything's All Right

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

Surrender
From "A Practical Philosophy":
"We simply stop messing in God's business. And in my opinion, when we stop messing and stop worrying, we have
turned our will and our lives over to God (or Good) as we understand (or don't understand) Him. "San Jose, California,
USA"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 116

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"While I may be powerless to solve the globe's problems, I am given all the power I need to make a difference to my community, my family, my job, my friends, and most importantly, to stay sober and help other alcoholics."
Woodinville, Wash., November 2013
"From: "The Scoop" "
AA Grapevine

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

"But life among Alcoholics Anonymous is more than attending
gatherings and visiting hospitals. Cleaning up old scrapes, helping
to settle family differences, explaining the disinherited son to his
irate parents, lending money and securing jobs for each other, when
justified these are everyday occurrences. No one is too
discredited or has sunk too low to be welcomed cordially if he means
business."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 161~

"Nearly every modern employer feels a moral responsibility for the
well-being of his help, and he tries to meet these responsibilities.
That he has not always done so for the alcoholic is easily
understood. To him the alcoholic has often seemed a fool of the
first magnitude. Because of the employee's special ability, or of his
own strong personal attachment to him, the employer has sometimes
kept such a man at work long beyond a reasonable period. Some
employers have tried every known remedy. In only a few instances has
there been a lack of patience and tolerance. And we, who have
imposed on the best of employers, can scarcely blame them if they
have been short with us."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 137~

It mattered little whether our resentments were justified or not.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 90

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Some strongly object to the A.A. position that alcoholism is an illness. This concept, they feel, removes moral
responsibility from alcoholics. As any A.A. knows, this is far from true. We do not use the concept of sickness to
absolve our members from responsibility. On the contrary, we use the fact of fatal illness to clamp the heaviest kind of
moral obligation onto the sufferer, the obligation to use A.A.'s Twelve Steps to get well.
'In the early days of his drinking, the alcoholic is often guilty of irresponsibility. But once the time of compulsive drinking
has arrived, he can't very well be held fully accountable for his conduct. He then has an obsession that condemns him
to drink, and a bodily sensitivity to alcohol that guarantees his final madness and death.
'But when he is made aware of this condition, he is under pressure to accept A.A.'s program of moral regeneration.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, cleanse me from all impurities and put a new heart and a new spirit within me. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh that will be sensitive and compassionate to the needs of others. In Jesus’ name, help me to see others as you see them and to hear and answer their cries just as you would. Today, I will look for opportunities to bless others. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 2

Service
While practicing service to others, if my successes rise to grandiosity,
I must reflect on what brought me to this point.
What has been given joyfully, with love,
must be passed on without reservation and without expectation.
For as I grow, I find that no matter how much I give with love, I receive much more in spirit.
- Daily Reflections, p. 279

Thought to Ponder . . .
Service is gratitude in action.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
W E = Walls Evaporate.

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

Juggernaut
We who are alcoholics can consider ourselves
fortunate indeed.
Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter
with the juggernaut of self-will,
and has suffered enough under its weight
to be willing to look for something better.
So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue
that we have been driven to AA,
have admitted defeat,
have acquired the rudiments of faith,
and now want to make a decision
to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 37-8

Thought to Consider . . .
If faith without works is dead,
then willingness without action is fantasy.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
W H O = Willingness, Honesty, Openmindedness

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

Self-concern
From "'Selfish?'"
"Some A.A. speakers say, 'A.A. is a selfish program.' The word 'selfish' ordinarily implies that one is acquisitive,
demanding, and thoughtless of the welfare of others. Of course, the A.A. way of lifedoes not at all imply such
undesirable traits.
"If we cannot or will not achieve sobriety, then we become truly lost, right in the here and now. Therefore, our own
recovery and spiritual growth have to come first -- a right and necessary kind of self-concern."
c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 81

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

"It's a waste of time to take God's inventory."
November 1991
From: "Trusting the Silence"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly relations
with his children. Their young minds were impressionable while he
was drinking. Without saying so, they may cordially hate him for
what he has done to them and to their mother. The children are
sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. They cannot
seem to forgive and forget. This may hang on for months, long after
their mother has accepted dad's new way of living and thinking.
In time they will see that he is a new man and in their own way they
will let him know it."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 134~

We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness
are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.
Alcoholics Anonymous, II Spiritual Experience, p. 568

It will become more and more evident as we go forward that it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by people
who, like us, are suffering from the pains of growing up.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 92

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We discover that we receive guidence for our lives to just about the extent that we stop making demands upon God to
give it to us on order and on our terms.
In praying, we ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for
that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out.
There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring
much relief and benefit. But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life.

Prayer for the Day: Father, I humble myself before You, Your will not mine be done. I will mediate on your Word day and night. By the grace of God I will be an obedient doer of your Word. I renew my mind to your Word, and pray that your Word will dominate my thoughts, words and actions. I am strong in you, Lord, and in the power of your might. Today, I choose Life. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 3

Paradox
4. WE DIE TO LIVE.
That is a beautiful paradox straight out of the Biblical idea of being "born again"
or "in losing one's life to find it." When we work at our Twelve Steps,
the old life of guzzling and fuzzy thinking, and all that goes with it, gradually dies,
and we acquire a different and a better way of life.
As our shortcomings are removed, one life of us dies, and another life of us lives.
We in AA die to live.
- Experience, Strength & Hope, p. 156

Thought to Ponder . . .
We surrender to win; we give away to keep;
we suffer to get well; we die to live.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Alive.

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

Resentments
In AA we slowly learned that something had to be done
about our vengeful resentments, self-pity,
and unwarranted pride.
We had to see that every time we played the big shot,
we turned people against us.
We had to see that when we harbored grudges
and planned revenge for such defeats,
we were really beating ourselves with
the club of anger we had intended to use on others.
We learned that if we were seriously disturbed,
our first need was to quiet that disturbance,
regardless of who or what we thought caused it.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 47

Thought to Consider . . .
Resentment is like acid,
eating away at the vessel it is stored in.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C A L M = Can Anger Leave Me?

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

Service
Tradition Two: "For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as he may express Himself in
our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
"The group now has a so-called rotating Committee, very sharply limited in its authority. In no sense whatever can its
members govern or direct the group. They are servants. Theirs is the sometimes thankless privilege of doing the
group's chores."
(c) 1981, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 134

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"Nearly all of us, when we think about it, agree that we are a long, long way from being anywhere near grown up, from
almost any point of view. We can clearly see that our job as individuals and as a Fellowship is to keep right on growing
by the constant use of our Twelve Steps."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1960
From: "AA Tomorrow"
The Language of the Heart

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

"As each member of a resentful family begins to see his shortcomings
and admits them to the others, he lays a basis for helpful
discussion. These family talks will be constructive if they can be
carried on without heated argument, self-pity, self-justification or
resentful criticism."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 127~

"When drinking, or getting over a bout, an alcoholic, sometimes the
model of honesty when normal, will do incredible things. Afterward,
his revulsion will be terrible. Nearly always, these antics indicate
nothing more than temporary conditions."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 140~

Perhaps we shall need to share with this person facts about ourselves which no others ought to know.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 61

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We discover that we receive guidance for our lives to just about the extent that we stop making demands upon God to
give it to us on order and on our terms.
In praying, we ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for
that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out.
There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring
much relief and benefit. But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, there are times when we are so concerned about ourselves that we don’t think of others. We
ask for the gift of your Spirit that we may grow in awareness of others:
- noticing when someone is unhappy,
- sensing when there’s something wrong for somebody,
- seeing when someone feels cut off or isolated,
- knowing when to say the right word,
- expressing thanks and compliments,
- being thoughtful when someone is ill,
- giving words of encouragement,
- helping someone to feel welcome,
- realizing when someone needs the opportunity to talk.
May we grow in sensitivity towards others. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 4

Open-mindedness
Faced with alcoholic destruction,
we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters
as we had tried to be on other questions.
In this respect alcohol was a great persuader.
It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 48

Thought to Ponder . . .
Keep an open mind.

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

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

Humility
Every newcomer in AA is told, and soon realizes for himself,
that his humble admission of powerlessness
over alcohol is his first step toward liberation
from its paralyzing grip.
So it is that we first see humility as a necessity.
But this is the barest beginning. . .
A whole lifetime geared to self-centeredness
cannot be set in reverse all at once.
Rebellion dogs our every step at first.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 72-3

Thought to Consider . . .
Many people haven't even a nodding acquaintance
with humility as a way of life.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T R U S T = Teaching Recovery Using Steps and Traditions

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

Relief
From "More about Alcoholism":
"'They grinned, which I didn't like too much, and then asked me if I thought myself alcoholic and if I were really licked this time.
"'Then they outlined the spiritual answer and program of action which a hundred of them had followed successfully.
Though I had been only a nominal churchman, their proposals were not, intellectually, hard to swallow. But the program
of action, though entirely sensible, was pretty drastic. It meant I would have to throw several lifelong conceptions out of
the window. That was not easy. But the moment I made up my mind to go through with the process, I had the curious
feeling that my alcoholic condition was relieved, as in fact it proved to be.'"
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg.42

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

"While I've never been sober today before, I count on my Higher Power to keep me sober as he has done on all those
other days before."
Huntington, W.V., August 2006
From: "Never Sober Today Before"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could
not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that
either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He
isn't."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 53~

We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel
the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.
The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway,
walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. ~Alcoholics Anonymous page 75

When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 60

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

While A.A. has restored thousands of poor Christians to their churches, and has made believers out of atheists and
agnostics, it has also made good A.A.'s out of those belonging to the Buddhist, Islamic, and Jewish faiths. For example,
we question very much whether our Buddhist members in Japan would ever have joined this Society had A.A. officially
stamped itself a strictly Christian movement.
'You can easily convince yourself of this by imagining that A.A. started among the Buddhists and that they then told you
you couldn't join them unless you became a Buddhist, too. If you were a Christian alcoholic under these circumstances,
you might well turn your face to the wall and die.

Prayer for the Day: Lord in heaven, please listen to all those who are praying to You now. Those who are sad and
crying, those who have lost friends and family. Those who are alone and frightened. Help them to remember, that You
are there and You are listening. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 5

Unity
The unity of AA is the most cherished quality our Society has.
Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it.
Without unity, the heart of AA would cease to beat.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 129

Thought to Ponder . . .
There is no strength without unity.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
U S = United Spirits.

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

Faith
People of faith have a logical idea
of what life is all about.
Actually, we used to have no reasonable
conception whatever.
We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting
spiritual beliefs and practices
when we might have observed that many
spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors and creeds
were demonstrating a degree of stability,
happiness and usefulness
which we should have sought ourselves.
c. 2002 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 49

Thought to Consider . . .
Feed your faith and starve your doubt.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart.

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

Faith
Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
"'When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for
us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief
meant reliance, not defiance. In A.A. we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol's final
catastrophe. We saw them meet and transcend their other pains and trials. We saw them calmly accept impossible
situations, seeking neither to run nor to recriminate. This was not only faith; it was faith that worked under all conditions.
We soon concluded that whatever price in humility we must pay, we would pay.'"
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 31

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"What matters is what works, not my opinion of what works."
November 1991
From: "Trusting the Silence"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"...with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a
spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely
grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings
we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity
of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to
die."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66

"If we skip this vital step (5th Step), we may not overcome drinking.
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. They only thought they had lost their
egoism and fear; they only thought they had humbled themselves. But
they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in
the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all
their life story."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 72~

It was only by repeated humiliations that we were forced to learn something about humility.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 72

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

A.A. is no success story in the ordinary sense of the word. It is a story of suffering transmuted, under grace, into spiritual progress.'
For Dr. Bob, the insatiable craving for alcohol was evidently a physical phenomenon which bedeviled several of his first
years in A.A., a time when only days and nights of carrying the message to other alcoholics could cause him to forget
about drinking. Although his craving was hard to withstand, it doubtless did account for some part of the intense
incentive that went into forming Akron's Group Number One.
Bob's spiritual release did not come easily; it was to be painfully slow. It always entailed the hardest kind of work and the
sharpest vigilance.

Prayer for the Day: For Healing - Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow Your healing hand to heal
me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch
my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need,
and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I
may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 6

Step Two
"Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

"Sanity" is defined as "soundness of mind."
Yet no alcoholic, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior,
whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber,
can claim "soundness of mind" for himself.
Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 33

Thought to Ponder . . .
When I change what I believe, I change what I do.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change.

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

Money Matters
Money gradually became our servant
and not our master.
It became a means of exchanging love and service
with those about us.
When, with God's help, we calmly accepted our lot,
then we found we could live at peace with ourselves
and show others who still suffered the same fears
that they could get over them, too.
We found that freedom from fear was
more important than freedom from want.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 122

Thought to Consider . . .
It's more important to feel happy about who I am
than who I think I should be.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P A C E = Positive Attitudes Change Everything.

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

Hope
From "The Keys of the Kingdom":
"I stayed up all night reading that [Big] book. For me it was a wonderful experience. It explained so much I had not
understood about myself, and, best of all, it promised recovery if I would do a few simple things and be willing to have
the desire to drink removed. Here was hope. Maybe I could find my way out of this agonizing existence. Perhaps I could
find freedom and peace, and be able once again to call my soul my own."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 273

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

"We of AA can never set any hampering limitation upon the ultimate destiny of ourselves and our Fellowship, nor any
whatever upon God's love for us all. Individually and collectively, structurally and spiritually, we shall ever need to build
for the future."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1960
From: "AA Tomorrow"
The Language of the Heart

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

"God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your
morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still
sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But
obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it
that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come
to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164~

We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel
the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.
The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway,
walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. ~Alcoholics Anonymous page 75

And let's always remember that meditation is in reality intensely practical. One of its first fruits is emotional balance.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 101

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings and then for a right acceptance of the many gifts
that are mine - both temporal and spiritual. Here I try to achieve a state of joyful gratitude. When such a brand of
gratitude is repeatedly affirmed and pondered, it can finally displace the natural tendency to congratulate myself on
whatever progress I may have been enabled to make in some areas of living.
I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming with
gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know.

Prayer for the Day: Lord God, may I not only feel the need of thee when I am burdened with sorrow and care, but may I
have need of thee in my pleasures and joys. I thank thee for thy gracious kindness, thy mercy and thy protection. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

February 7

Step Two
"Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

We have acquired a belief in some force that is external, more powerful than we are,
and capable of helping us return to sanity.
This implies that the external, more powerful force is a force for good,
an orderly force capable of making sense out of the chaos of reality,
and bringing order to our own chaotic lives.
The final stage in a full acceptance of the Second Step is to come to believe
that this greater power -- a good and orderly greater power -- will indeed help us.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], pp. 140-141

Thought to Ponder . . .
Believe more deeply.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A R T = Always Remain Teachable.

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

Language of the Heart

>From the beginning,
communication in AA has been no ordinary transmission
of helpful ideas and attitudes.
It has been unusual and sometimes unique.
Because of our kinship in suffering,
and because our common means of deliverance
are effective for ourselves only when
constantly carried to others,
our channels of contact have always been charged
with the language of the heart.
Bill W., July 1960
c. 1988 AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 243

Thought to Consider . . .
Walk softly and carry a Big Book.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S O B E R = Simply Observe Bill's Exemplary Recovery.

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

Altogether
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"In something of the same fashion this idea began to work out with other kinds of prospects. In the beginning we could
not sober up women. They were different, they said. But when they saw other women get well, they slowly followed suit.
The derelict, the rich man, the socialite, all these once thought A.A. was not for them. So did certain people of other
races and tongues and creeds. But when they clearly saw the alcoholic tragedy for which they were headed, they could
forget their differences and join A.A."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 199

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"Be willing to be willing to follow directions and you will find your life changing in all areas."
Milwaukie, Ore., June 1999
From: "A Lady After All"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"Both you and the new man must walk day by day in the path of
spiritual progress. If you persist, remarkable things will happen."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 100~

"Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one
else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail.
Remember they are very ill."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~

We found that freedom from fear was more important than freedom from want.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 122

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

I am a firm believer in both guidance and prayer. But I am fully aware, and humble enough, I hope, to see there may be nothing infallible about my guidance.
'The minute I figure I have got a perfectly clear pipeline to God, I have become egotistical enough to get into real trouble. Nobody can cause more needless grief than a power-driver who thinks he has got it straight from God.

Prayer for the Day: Praying for Others - Lord, even though others misunderstand and talk about me, I will keep right on praying for them. Thank you for giving me the strength to love my enemies, to do good to those who hate me. I ask you to bless those who have hurt me, and pray for their happiness. For now is the time—you are bending down to hear! You are ready with a plentiful supply of love and kindness. Thank you for answering my prayer, for your loving kindness is wonderful; your mercy is so plentiful, so tender and so kind. Nothing – no activity, work, or relationship – has meaning without you as the center of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 8

Guilt
Day by day, we try to move a little toward God's perfection.
So we need not to be consumed by maudlin guilt
for failure to achieve His likeness and image by Thursday next.
Progress is our aim, and His perfection is the beacon, light-years away, that draws us on.
- As Bill Sees It, p. 15

Thought to Ponder . . .
Guilt is in the past; worry is the future. Both are manifestations of ego.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G U I L T = God Understands I Lack Trust.

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

Vigilance
Now that we're in AA and sober,
and winning back the esteem of our friends
and business associates,
we find that we still need to exercise special vigilance.
As an insurance against "big-shot-ism"
we can often check ourselves by remembering
we are today sober only by the grace of God
and that any success we may be having
is far more His success than ours.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 92

Thought to Consider . . .
Always remember you're unique ... just like everyone else.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
H A L T = Honestly, Actively, Lovingly, Tolerant.

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

Today
>From "Getting Ahead":
"I think that one of the main differences between an active alcoholic and a recovering alcoholic can be expressed as a
matter of tense. The active alcoholic tends to live in the future or in the past. The sober alcoholic, using part of the
philosophy he learns in his A.A. experience, lives or strives to live in the present."
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 113

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"If you need a friend who understands, look no further than the rooms of AA and the Big Book. They always hold an
answer and some faith for me."
Santa Rosa, Calif, October 2006
From: "Imperfect Progress"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to
a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we
shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or
hostility. Drinkers will not stand for it.
After all, our problems were of our own making. Bottles were only a
symbol. Besides, we have stopped fighting anybody or anything. We
have to!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 103~

"Many a man, yet dazed from his hospital experience, has stepped over
the threshold of that home into freedom. Many an alcoholic who
entered there came away with an answer. He succumbed to that gay
crowd inside, who laughed at their own misfortunes and understood
his. Impressed by those who visited him at the hospital, he
capitulated entirely when, later, in an upper room of this house, he
heard the story of some man whose experience closely tallied with his
own. The expression on the faces of the women, that indefinable
something in the eyes of the men, the stimulating and electric
atmosphere of the place, conspired to let him know that here was
haven at last."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 160

We should avoid extreme judgments, both of ourselves and of others involved.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 82

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Resentment is the Number One offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have also been spiritually ill. When our spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.
In dealing with our resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions, or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry. In most cases it was found that our self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships (including sex) were hurt or threatened.
'The most heated bit of letter-writing can be a wonderful safety valve - providing the wastebasket is somewhere nearby.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, we ask you to open our eyes that we may value and appreciate all people, recognizing what we have in common rather than focusing on what our differences might be. Inspire us to distinguish between what is important and what is not, and open our minds and hearts that we may always be people of good will who bring life and joy to others. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 9

Twenty-four Hours
They asked, "You can quit twenty-four hours, can't you?"
I said, "Sure, yes, anybody can do that, for twenty-four hours."
They said, "That's what we're talking about. Just twenty-four hours at a time."
That sure did take a load off my mind. Every time I'd start thinking about drinking,
I would think of the long, dry years ahead without having a drink;
but this idea of twenty-four hours, that it was up to me from then on, was a lot of help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 188

Thought to Ponder . . .
Just for today, I choose not to drink.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
O D A A T = One Day At A Time.

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

Martyrdom
Self-pity is one of the most unhappy
and consuming defects that we know.
It is a bar to all spiritual progress
and can cut off all effective communication with our fellows
because of its inordinate demands for attention
and sympathy.
It is a maudlin form of martyrdom;
which we can ill afford.
Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 238

Thought to Consider . . .
Poor me! Poor me! Pour me a drink.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
N U T S = Not Using The Steps

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

Peace
>From "Infinite Need":
"In practice, I have always found it rather difficult to let Allah's superior and
flawless will prevail in my life and govern my will. However, when I make
humble efforts, serenely accepting His will for me at some moment in my life,
I feel absolutely relieved of the load I have carried on my shoulders. The mind
does not wander any more [sic], and the heart is full of happiness at every
breath I take." Karachi, Pakistan
1973 AAWS, Inc., printed 2004; Came to Believe, pg. 21

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

"The Secret is, there is no Secret! Working the Steps with a sponsor, going to meetings, helping others, and above all, keeping God and sobriety first have kept me sober almost five years now. I always had heard that things in plain sight are the hardest to find!"
Vandalia, Ill., February 2001
From: "The Secret"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all
you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don't
waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 90

"When people presented us with spiritual approaches, how frequently
did we all say, "I wish I had what that man has. Im sure it
would work if I could only believe as he believes. But I cannot
accept as surely true the many articles of faith which are so plain
to him." So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at a
simpler level."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47~

Looking at Step Five, we decided that an inventory, taken alone, wouldn't be enough.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 108

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to
the belief that to satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the
world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.
We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank
to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.
In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the
perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfactions were
simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please help me through today. Help me share your wisdom and glory with others so they
may benefit from your love.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 10

The Ladder
No one who drank as I did wakes up on the edge of the abyss one morning and says:
Things look pretty scary; I think I'd better stop drinking before I fall in.
I was convinced I could go as far as I wanted,
and then climb back out when it wasn't fun anymore. What happened was,
I found myself at the bottom of the canyon thinking I'd never see the sun again.
AA didn't pull me out of that hole.
It did give me the tools to construct a ladder, with Twelve Steps.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 316

Thought to Ponder . . .
I stood in the sunlight at last.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S T E P S = Solutions Through Each Positive Step.

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

Let Go
If you have decided you want what we have
and are willing to go to any length to get it --
then you are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked.
We thought we could find an easier, softer way.
But we could not.
With all the earnestness at our command,
we beg of you to be fearless and thorough
from the very start.
Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas
and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
c. 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 58

Thought to Consider . . .
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps

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

Stereotypes
Tradition Two: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority- a loving God as He may express Himself in our
group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
"Former group leaders divide into two classes known in A.A. slang as 'elder statesmen' and 'bleeding deacons.' The
elder statesman is the one who sees the wisdom of the group's decision, who holds no resentment over his reduced
status, whose judgment, fortified by considerable experience, is sound, and who is willing to sit quietly on the sidelines
awaiting developments. The bleeding deacon is one who is just as surely convinced that the group cannot get along
without him, who constantly connives for reelection to office, and who continues to be consumed with self-pity."
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, 2005, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., pg. 135

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

"A vast communications net now covers the earth, even to its remotest reaches ... Nothing can matter more to the
future welfare of AA than the manner in which we use this colossus of communication. Used unselfishly and well, the
results can surpass our present imagination. Should we handle this great instrument badly, we shall be shattered by the
ego demands of our own people -- often with the best of intention on their part."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., November 1960
From: "Freedom Under God: The Choice Is Ours"
The Language of the Heart

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

"Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from
care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will
mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152~

"We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor
do we carry the world's troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man
sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and
place what we have at his disposal."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132

"What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually
becomes a working part of the mind. 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. We might pay for this
presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless,
we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on
the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87~

Perhaps we shall need to share with this person facts about ourselves which no others ought to know.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 61

Misc. AA Literature - Quote
Around 1943 or 1944, the Central Office asked the groups to list their membership rules and send them in. After they arrived we set them all down. A little reflection upon these many rules brought us to an astonishing conclusion.
If all of these edicts had been in force everywhere at once it would have been practically impossible for any alcoholic to have ever joined A.A. About nine-tenths of our oldest and best members could never have got by!
At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance for sobriety in A.A. 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?

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please help me through today. Help me share your wisdom and glory with others so they may benefit from your love.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 11

Discovery
I learned that when I stopped trying to analyze AA or God
I found both sobriety and a Higher Power.
I also realized that I could easily have found sobriety and God by honestly saying,
"God, I am so confused -- please help me."
- Thank You For Sharing, p. 41

Thought to Ponder . . .
Recovery is discovery.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Aware.

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

Miracles
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.
The age of miracles is still with us.
Our own recovery proves that!
c. 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 153

Thought to Consider . . .
Don't give up before the miracle happens.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
H O P E = Happy Our Program Exists

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

Request
>From "Into Action":
"On awakening, let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we
ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 86

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

"From the moment I pulled open the doors to my very first meeting, I felt something different, something good was going
to happen. Those doors, which at the time I believed to be the heaviest ever made, allowed me to walk into a new way of life."
New York, N.Y., January 2006
From: "Attitude Adjustment"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy,
envy, frustration, and fear."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 145~

"Thus we grow. And so can you, though you be but one man with this
book in your hand. We believe and hope it contains all you will need
to begin."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 162

For we had started to get perspective on ourselves, which is another way of saying that we were gaining in humility.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 48

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-
confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol was concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in
fact, it was a total liability. There was no such thing as personal conquest of the alcoholic compulsion by the unaided will.
It is when we try to make our will conform with God's that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most
wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of will power. We had tried to bombard our problems with
it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God's intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the
purpose of A.A.'s Twelve Steps.

Prayer for the Day: As we travel through the rest of our day, may the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 12

Helping Others
When trying to help a fellow alcoholic,
I've given in to an impulse to give advice, and perhaps that's inevitable.
But allowing others the right to be wrong reaps its own benefits.
The best I can do -- and it sounds easier than it is to put into practice --
is to listen, share personal experience, and pray for others.
- Daily Reflections, p. 364

Thought to Ponder . . .
Learn to listen; listen to learn.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A R T = Always Remain Teachable.

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

Faith
We had seen spiritual release,
but liked to tell ourselves it wasn't true.
Actually, we were fooling ourselves,
for 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.
c. 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 55

Thought to Consider . . .
We found the Great Reality deep down within us.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H = Found Always In Trusting Him.

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

HP?
Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
"'You can, if you wish, make A.A. itself your "higher power." Here's a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. In this respect they are certainly a power greater than you, who have not even come close to a solution. Surely you can have faith in them. Even this minimum of faith will be enough. You will find many members who have crossed the threshold just this way. All of them will tell you that, once across, their faith broadened and deepened. Relieved of the alcohol obsession, their lives unaccountably transformed, they came to believe in a Higher Power, and most of them began to talk of God.'"
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 27-28

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

"Clearly, the chief mark of restoration to sanity is our
not taking the first drink."
March 1981
From: "Sanity"
Step By Step

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

"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~

"We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 133~

We eat, drink, and grab for more of everything than we need, fearing we shall never have enough.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 49

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

As a rule, the average newcomer wanted his family to know immediately what he was trying to do. He also wanted to tell others who had tried to help him - his doctor, his minister, and close friends. As he gained confidence, he felt it right to explain his new way of life to his employer and business associates. When opportunities to be helpful came along, he found he could talk easily about A.A. to almost anyone.
These quiet disclosures helped him to lose his fear of the alcoholic stigma, and spread the news of A.A.'s existence in his community. Many a new man and woman came to A.A. because of such conversations. Since it is only at the top public level that anonymity is expected, such communications were well within its spirit.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Father, thank you for today. Please give me wisdom and guidance to help those who are in need. Please grant me the patience and understanding to deal with those who are less forgiving, for they are the ones who need help the most.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 13

An Open Mind
First, AA does not demand that you believe anything.
All of its Twelve Steps are but suggestions. Second, to get sober and stay sober,
you don't have to swallow all of Step Two right now. . . .
Third, all you 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 chicken 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 Ponder . . .
It's hard to keep an open mind with an open mouth.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Accept, Belief, Change.

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

Carry the Message
Taking advantage of technological advances,
AA members with computers
can participate in meetings online,
sharing with fellow alcoholics across the country
or around the world.
Fundamentally, though, the difference
between an electronic meeting
and the home group around the corner
is only one of format.
In any meeting, anywhere, AA's share experience,
strength, and hope with each other,
in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics.
Modem-to-modem or face-to-face,
AA's speak the language of the heart
in all its power and simplicity.
c. 2001AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, Foreword to Fourth Edition, p. xxiv

Thought to Consider . . .
We in AA don't carry the alcoholic;
we carry the message.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
H E A R T = Healing, Enjoying, And Recovering, Together.
* * *
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart

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

Rewards
>From "He Lived Only to Drink":
"The rewards of sobriety are bountiful and as progressive as the disease they counteract. Certainly among these
rewards for me are release from the prison of uniqueness, and the realization that participation in the A.A. way of life is a
blessing and privilege beyond estimate' a blessing to live a life free from the pain and degradation of drinking and filled
with the joy of useful, sober living, and a privilege to grow in sobriety one day at a time and bring the message of hope as
it was brought to me."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 451

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

"Empathy, not sympathy or pity, is the most useful quality
a sponsor can cultivate."
Bellevue, Wash., January 1975
From: "Need a Sponsor? Who? Me?"
One on One: AA Sponsorship in Action

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

"'There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which
is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in
everlasting ignorance, "that principle is contempt prior to investigation.'"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Appendice II, Spiritual Experience, pg. 568~

Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going
to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is
the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and
this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through
which we passed to freedom.
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62

At the very least, we shall have to come to grips with some of our worst character defects and take action toward their
removal as quickly as we can.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 69

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Too much of my life has been spent in dwelling upon the faults of others. This is a most subtle and perverse form of
self-satisfaction, which permits us to remain comfortably unaware of our own defects. Too often we are heard to say, 'If
it weren't for him (or her), how happy I'd be!'
Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about
us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. Again and again,
we shall need to return to that unflattering point of departure. This is an exercise in acceptance that we can profitably
practice every day of our lives.
Provided we strenuously avoid turning these realistic surveys of the facts of life into unrealistic alibis for apathy or
defeatism, they can be the sure foundation upon which increased emotional health and therefore spiritual progress can
be built.

Prayer for the Day: God our Father, the Bible reminds us that your love for each of us is great and that you are faithful
for ever, never letting us down or forgetting your promises to us. Inspire us to value friendship and loyalty, that we may
be faithful to those who love and trust us. We pray that we may live in such a way that we may make others feel
welcome and secure. Show us how to look upon other people in the same generous way that you look upon each of us.
Extend our horizons that we may understand better those who are far from us. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 14

Love
Love is always positive and constructive. It does not tolerate negativism.
It must be given and received unconditionally, without reservations, with no strings attached.
When we love, we will see in others what we wish to have in ourselves.
We will know that love is a privilege given to us by God.
When we love, we will never be bored with life or our program. . .
It shows us that the things that count are never held in the hand but always in the heart.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], p. 297

Thought to Ponder . . .
Giving love is more important than being loved.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Awesome.

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

Results
We found that as soon as we were able
to lay aside prejudice
and express even a willingness
to believe in a Power greater than ourselves,
we commenced to get results,
even though it was impossible for any of us
to fully define or comprehend that Power,
which is God.
c. 2001AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 46

Thought to Consider . . .
God seldom becomes a reality
until God becomes a necessity.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G I F T = God Is Forever There

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

Overseas
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"Maybe A.A. was just a Yankee gadget that would be no good for Ireland, England, Holland, Scandinavia, Australia, and
the Pacific. Since their countries were so different, maybe their alcoholics were different too. 'Will A.A. work in our
cultures"' they asked. We became heavily involved in correspondence, much helped by our American members in New
York who could translate for us. We searched out and briefed A.A. travelers going abroad. Gradually headway was
made. It was a long time, however, before we knew for sure that A.A. could cross the barriers of distance, race, creed,
and language. But today [1957], the A.A. map shows our society in more than seventy countries and the U.S. possessions."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 200

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

"With respect to its own affairs, the collective conscience of the group will, given time, almost surely demonstrate its
perfect dependability. The group conscience will, in the end, prove a far more infallible guide for group affairs than the
decision of any individual member, however good or wise he may be."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., January 1948
From: "Tradition Two"
The Language of the Heart

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

"We are careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as
an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is not
helpful to anyone. Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among
us and is immensely relieved when he finds we are not witch-burners.
A spirit of intolerance might repel alcoholics whose lives could
have been saved, had it not been for such stupidity."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 103~

"This painful past may be of infinite value to other families still
struggling with their problem. We think each family which has been
relieved owes something to those who have not, and when the occasion
requires, each member of it should be only too willing to bring
former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out of their hiding places.
Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing
which makes life seem so worth while to us now."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 124~

With clear understanding and right, grown-up attitudes, very happy results do follow.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 120

Misc. AA Literature - Quote
Today, the vast majority of us welcome any new light that can be thrown on the alcoholic's mysterious and baffling
malady. We welcome new and valuable knowledge whether it issues from a test tube, from a psychiatrist's couch, or
from revealing social studies. We are glad of any kind of education that accurately informs the public and changes its
age-old attitude toward the drunk.
More and more we regard all who labor in the total field of alcoholism as our companions on a march from darkness into
light. We see that we can accomplish together what we could never accomplish in separation and in rivalry.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, help us to do your will and open our spiritual ears to always listen to your voice as we make all
our plans and decisions. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

February 15

Change
It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves
to meet conditions, whatever they were.
In AA, we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments,
self-pity, and unwarranted pride. . .
We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance,
regardless of who or what we thought caused it.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 47

Thought to Ponder . . .
If I don't change, my sobriety date will.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
C H A N G E = Choosing Honesty Allows New Gifts and Energy.

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

Children of Chaos
Over the years, every conceivable deviation
from our Twelve Steps and Traditions has been tried.
That was sure to be,
since we are largely a band of ego-driven individuals.
Children of chaos, we have definitely played
with every brand of fire,
only to emerge unharmed and, we think, wiser.
These very deviations created a vast process
of trial and error which, under the grace of God,
has brought us to where we stand today.
c. 1952 AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 146

Thought to Consider . . .
Once we clear a hurdle, it doesn't seem so high

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C H A O S = Can't Handle Another Overwhelming Situation

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

Accept
>From "'The Belief Will Come'":
"I don't recall any immediate, dramatic change in my life. I began rereading the Big Book and the Twelve Steps, and
now I found in these much that I had never found before. I didn't reject any of it. I accepted it just as it was written. Nor
did I read into it anything that wasn't there.
"Again, nothing changed overnight. But, as time has passed, I have acquired a blind and, yes, childlike faith that, by
accepting a God I don't understand and the program of A.A. just as it is written, I can maintain my sobriety one day at a time."
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 47

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

"One night after a Step Two meeting, I decided to find out what those courageous early members who put our Twelve
Steps together really meant by sanity. I was a little surprised to find that my dictionary defined it as the quality of being
sound of mind, sound of judgment, reasonable and rational in one's thoughts ... As I sat there mulling over the definition,
an idea occurred to me: 'This is what I'm to be restored to -- sound, reasonable, rational thinking.'"
Shenandoah, Iowa, February 1982
From: "Sanity Clause"
Step By Step

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

"Actually we were fooling ourselves, for 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, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 55~

"There is action and more action. 'Faith without works is dead.'"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 88~

It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 75

Misc. AA Literature - Quote
We have had a much keener look at ourselves and those about us. We have seen that we were prodded by
unreasonable fears or anxieties into making a life business of winning fame, money, and what we thought was
leadership. So false pride became the reverse side of that ruinous coin marked 'Fear.' We simply had to be Number
One people to cover up our deep-lying inferiorities.
True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under
the grace of God.

Prayer for the Day: God, There are many difficulties and challenges in life, and we see or experience more of them
each day we live. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may have courage and determination, and may live in
such a way that we encourage one another. Enable us to transform whatever is negative, and remain positive in attitude
throughout our lives. Lighten our darkness and keep us safe. Amen.