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DAILY PONDERABLES

Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny

Daily Reflections

A PRICELESS REWARD

. . . Work with other alcoholics. . . . It works when other activities fail.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pg. 89

"Life will take on new meaning," as the Big Book says (p. 89 ). This promise has helped me to avoid self-seeking and self-pity. To watch others grow in this wonderful program, to see them improve the quality of their lives. Is a priceless reward for my effort to help others. Self-examination is yet another reward for an ongoing recovery, as are serenity, peace and contentment. The energy derived from seeing others on a successful path, of sharing with them the joys of the journey, gives to my life a new meaning.

From the book Daily Reflections

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought for the Day

The way of faith is, of course, not confined to A.A. it is for everybody who really wants to live. But many people can go through life without much of it. Many are doing so, to their own sorrow. The world is full of lack of faith. Many people have lost confidence in any meaning in the universe. Many are wondering if it has any meaning at all. Many are at loose ends. Life has no goal for many. They are strangers in the land. They are not at home. But for us in A.A., the way of faith is the way of life. We have proved by our past lives that we could not live without it. Do I think I could live happily without faith?

Meditation for the Day

"He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the just and the unjust." God does not interfere with the working of natural laws. The laws of nature are unchangeable, otherwise we could not depend on them. As far as natural laws are concerned, God makes no distinction between good and bad people. Sickness or death may strike anywhere. But spiritual laws are also made to be obeyed. Our choice of good or evil depends on whether we go upward to true success and victory in life or downward to loss and defeat.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may choose today the way of the spiritual life. I pray that I may live today with faith and hope and love.

From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day

NA - Just for Today

Service Motives

"Everything that occurs in the course of NA service must be motivated by the desire to more successfully carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers."

Basic Text pg. xvi

Our motives are often a surprise to us. In our early days of recovery, they were almost always a surprise! We've learned to check our motives through prayer, meditation, the steps, and talking to our sponsor or other addicts. When we find ourselves with an especially strong urge to do or have something, it's particularly important to check our motives to find out what we really want.

In early recovery, many of us throw ourselves into service with great fervor before we have started the regular practice of motive-checking. It takes awhile before we become aware of the real reasons for our zeal. We may want to impress others, show off our talents, or be recognized and important. Now, these desires may not be harmful in another setting, expressed through another outlet. In NA service, however, they can do serious damage.

When we decide to serve NA, we make a decision to help addicts find and maintain recovery. We have to carefully check our motives in service, remembering that it's much easier to frighten away using addicts than to convince them to stay. When we show them game-playing, manipulation, or pomposity, we present an unattractive picture of recovery; However, the unselfish desire to serve others creates an atmosphere that is attractive to the addict who still suffers.

Just for today: I will check my motives for the true spirit of service.

pg. 367

From the book Just for Today

Thought for Today

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” - Thomas Merton

Without Divine intervention I will always wind up believing that how I feel is the most important thing in the Universe. Don M. (Woodstock 2017)

"As long as I hung onto my mask, to the belief that the outer defines who I am; I was unable to develop the inner." Angie M.

Buddha/Zen Thoughts

If anyone says that a person must reap according to his deeds, if anyone thinks the law of karma is inexorable, then he is saying that there is no spiritual life or growth and nor is there any opportunity to bring confusion to an end. But if anyone says that what a person reaps is in accordance with his deeds, in that case a spiritual life can exist and there is opportunity for realization.

-Anguttara Nikaya

Native American

"Hear me! A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong."

--Tecumseh, SHAWNEE

You can take one arrow and break it in half. But if you take 12 arrows in a bundle, it's almost impossible to break any of them. There is strength in Unity. When we are together we are very powerful. This is the way the ancestors told us we need to be. Strong. We need to unite ourselves. This is why the Elders say, when we make decisions, we must first consider the good of the people. If every person in the community thinks this way, then we will always make strong decisions.

Creator, let my decisions have the strength of the bundle.

Keep It Simple

The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together. --- Saadi

When we were drinking and drugging, we didn't have to deal much with feelings. We turned them off. Then, when we let go of the alcohol and other drugs, we started to come back to life. Now--we have feelings again! But, even now, in recovery, we're scared of too much happiness. It's true--we don't want sadness and pain at all. Yet, feelings--the good and the bad--keep on coming.

And we have to handle them. We are learning to handle our feelings. We're getting strong enough to deal with them. With the help of our friends in the program, and our Higher Power, we're ready for life.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, I want to be fully alive, but I'm a little scared. Help me know what to do with my feelings today.

Action for the Day: Today, I'll be open to feelings. I'll enjoy my good feelings and share them. I'll ask for help with hard feelings by praying, and by calling my sponsor.

Big Book

"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

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AA Twelve Days of Christmas by Jennifer T.

On the first day of Christmas, AA gave to me, a message of sobriety.

On the second day of Christmas, AA gave to me a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the third day of Christmas, AA gave to me a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the fourth day of Christmas, AA gave to me an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the fifth day of Christmas, AA gave to me removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the sixth day of Christmas, AA gave to me a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the seventh day of Christmas, AA gave to me seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the eighth day of Christmas, AA gave to me eight amends I’m making, seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the ninth day of Christmas, AA gave to me nine ladies numbers, eight amends I’m making, seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the tenth day of Christmas, AA gave to me ten acts to inventory, nine ladies numbers, eight amends I’m making, seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, AA gave to me eleven pious promises, ten acts to inventory, nine ladies numbers, eight amends I’m making, seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, AA gave to me twelve works of service, eleven pious promises, ten acts to inventory, nine ladies numbers, eight amends I’m making, seven semblant sponsors, a new way of praying, removal of my character dings, an inventory of my sins, a fellowship of encouraging words, a Great God of Love, and a message of sobriety.