AA Thought For Today - April

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AA Thought for the Day

April 19

Inventory
When AA suggests a fearless moral inventory,
it must seem to every newcomer that more is being asked of him than he can do.
Both his pride and his fear beat him back every time he tries to look inside himself.
Pride says, "You need not pass this way," and Fear says, "You dare not look!"
But the testimony of AA's who have really tried a moral inventory
is that pride and fear of this sort turn out to be bogeymen, nothing else.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 48

Thought to Ponder . . .
All of AA's suggestions are free.
The ones I don't take are the ones I end up paying for.

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

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

Obsession
"The alcoholic has obsessions
to an exaggerated degree.
Over a period of time he has built up self-pity,
resentments toward anyone or anything
that interferes with his drinking.
Dishonest thinking, prejudice, ego,
antagonism toward anyone and everyone
who dares to cross him,
vanity and a critical attitude are character defects
that gradually creep in and become a part of his life.
Living with fear and tension inevitably results
in wanting to ease that tension,
which alcohol seems to do temporarily.
It took me some time to realize
that the Twelve Steps of AA were designed
to help correct these defects of character
and so help remove the obsession to drink."
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 380-1

Thought to Consider . . .
"Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession."

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 139

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
BS
Before Sobriety

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

Organizing
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"By the spring of 1938 a definite program of action took shape. It was agreed that we needed a tax-free charitable trust
or foundation. Wealthy contributors could then deduct gifts from their tax returns. "The first move was to choose a
name for the new outfit. After long discussion we decided to call it the Alcoholic Foundation. This seemed like a
resounding title, one that could create an impression of large importance. Still swayed by big ideas, we thought our
trusteeship ought to be chartered to do just about anything within the field of alcohol or alcoholism except lobby for
Prohibition. We intended an arrangement by which we could research, educate, and do a lot of other things. Attention to
our membership would be only one of many functions.
"It was thought that the Board of Trustees should consist of alcoholics and nonalcoholics. The latter were always to be
in the majority by a margin of one. This would assure our membership and other contributors that nonalcoholics would
be holding the purse strings."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 151-52

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

"I am learning how to be a better son, brother, friend, and boyfriend. These things may not be a big deal for some, but
they are completely foreign to me. What I found in AA was something I had been looking for my whole life, and I didn't
even know it."
Summer, Washington, April 2011
"Notes from an Alkie,"
AA Grapevine

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

"We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths
may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions.
People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49

"Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing
disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. There is no friction
among us over such matters."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 28~

Calm, thoughtful reflection upon personal relations can deepen our insight.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 80

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Freedom through Acceptance
We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that
dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible job. The moment we were
able to accept these facts fully, our release from the alcohol compulsion had begun.
For most of us, this pair of acceptances had required a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured a lot of exertion
to achieve. Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with sheer
will power; it came instead as the result of developing the willingness to accept these new facts of living.
We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we began to be free.
GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962

Prayer For The Day: Father, I belong to You. I place myself anew in Your hands and acknowledge You as Master and
Lord of my life. Grant me the gift of a forgiving heart and cleanse me of any anger, hostility, or revenge. Heal my hurts
and teach me to rely on Your love. Grant me wisdom of heart and strengthen me by Your grace to move on in faith, in
trust, and in love. Thank You, Lord, for Your love in my life.