AA Thoughts For Today - November

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AA Thought for the Day

November 29

Love
To my mind, love is giving, not necessarily in material things,
but in kindness, in ignoring faults, in thinking primarily in terms
of the welfare and happiness of the beloved. The more you give, the more you love.
Maybe that’s why parents seem to love their children more than their children love their parents.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], pp. 196-197

Thought to Ponder . . .
Love is a gift that must keep on giving to be kept.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
N O W = No Other Way

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

A Friend
"We finally saw that faith in some kind of God
was a part of our make-up,
just as much as the feeling we have for a friend.
Sometimes we had to search fearlessly,
but He was there.
He was as much a fact as we were.
We found the Great Reality deep down within us.
In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found.
It was so with us."
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 55

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

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

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

Income
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"The peak of the flood finally passed, but the regular correspondence traffic through Headquarters remained so great that we saw we would have to have permanent paid help. Volunteers could not handle the situation.
"We also realized that these increased demands upon the office could not be met out of book income. So for the first time we asked the A.A. groups to help. Trustees Howard and Bert went on the road. They asked that all A.A. groups contribute to a special fund in the Foundation which would be earmarked 'for A.A. office expenses only.' The contributions would be entirely voluntary. As a measuring stick, it was suggested that each group send in one dollar per member per year."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 191-92

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

"Difficult times bring us to new degrees of acceptance and humility because we learn on a deeper level how close we really are to our next drink. If we hang on, we learn how the grace of the Fellowship and the principles of the program carry us through the tough spots as well as the times of joy."
Providence, R.I., March 2009
"The Bottom of the Glass,"
Voices of Long-Term Sobriety

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

"Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful!
Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all
power that One is God. May you find Him now!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 58~

'We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid the, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence."
Alcoholics Anonymous Page 133

Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other.
-Alcoholics Anonymous p.68

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

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Sometimes, we register surprise, shock, and anger when people find fault with A.A. We are apt to be disturbed to such an extent that we cannot benefit by constructive criticism.
This sort of resentment makes no friends and achieves no constructive purpose. Certainly, this is an area in which we can improve.
It is evident that the harmony, security, and future effectiveness of A.A. will depend largely upon our maintenance of a thoroughly nonaggressive and pacific attitude in all our public relations. This is an exacting assignment, because in our drinking days we were prone to anger, hostility, rebellion, and aggression. And, even though we are now sober, the old patterns of behavior are to a degree still with us, always threatening to explode on any good excuse.
But we now know this, and therefore I feel confident that in the conduct of our public affairs we shall always find the grace to exert restraint.

Prayer for the Day: Fifth Step Prayer - Higher Power, My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me, in this Step, for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this and I will do it.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

November 30

Ask for Help
Finally beaten, I asked for God’s help. His presence told me to believe.
My obsession for alcohol was taken away and my paranoia has since been lifted.
I am no longer afraid. I know my life is healthy and sane.
- Daily Reflections, p. 46

Thought to Ponder . . .
Simply asking for help seems to be a help in itself.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H E L P = His Ever-Loving Presence.

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

Perfection
"Day by day, we try to move a little
toward God's perfection.
So we need not 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."
Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 15

Thought to Consider . . .
Remember the 3 P's:
Perfectionism (leads to) Procrastination (leads to) Paralysis.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P U T = Patience, Understanding, Tolerance.

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

Belief
>From "He Took Control":
"One of the oldtimers used the electricity metaphor, which I later found in the Big Book. 'A person walking into a dark room does not worry about understanding electricity,' he said. 'He just finds the switch and turns on the light.' He explained that we can turn on the switch of spirituality by simply asking God each morning for another day of sobriety and thanking Him at night for another beautiful sober day. He said, 'Do it mechanically if you really don't believe in it. But do it every day. There is probably no one who really understands the wonderful ways of the Higher Power, and we don't need to. He understands us.'"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 30

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

"I began to find ... a more centered, purposeful life, at least in the sense that my body, mind, emotions, and soul were all more or less heading in the same direction. I was riding one horse instead of four."
La Canada, Calif., November 1989
"Stepping Into the Sunlight,"
Spiritual Awakenings

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

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to
Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give
freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the
Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164

"We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. "
Alcoholics Anonymous page 68

When resentful thoughts come, try to pause and count your blessings.
-Alcoholics Anonymous p.119

When in doubt we can always pause, saying, "Not my will, but Thine, be done.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.93

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

As newcomers, many of us have indulged in spiritual intoxication. Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, we saw our pick strike gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds.
The newcomer feels he has struck something better than gold. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product.

Prayer for the Day: Sixth Step Prayer - Dear God, I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental health.