DAILY PONDERABLES
Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny
Daily Reflections
CONFORMING TO THE A.A. WAY
We obey A.A.'s Steps and Traditions because we really want them for ourselves. It is no longer a question of good or evil; we conform because we genuinely want to conform. Such is our process of growth in unity and function. Such is the evidence of God's grace and love among us.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 106
It is fun to watch myself grow in A.A. I fought conformity to A.A. principles from the moment I entered, but I learned from the pain of my belligerence that, in choosing to live the A.A. way of life, I opened myself to God's grace and love. Then I began to know the full meaning of being a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
From the book Daily Reflections
© Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
If you can take your troubles as they come, if you can maintain your calm and composure amid pressing duties and unending engagements, if you can rise above the distressing and disturbing circumstances in which you are set down, you have discovered a priceless secret of daily living. Even if you are forced to go through life weighed down by some inescapable misfortune or handicap and yet live each day as it comes with poise and peace of mind, you have succeeded where most people have failed. You have wrought a greater achievement than a person who rules a nation. Have I achieved poise and peace of mind?
Meditation for the Day
Take a blessing with you wherever you go. You have been blessed, so bless others. Such stores of blessings are awaiting you in the months and years that lie ahead. Pass on your blessings. Blessing can and does go around the world, passed on from one person to another. Shed a little blessing in the heart of one person. That person is cheered to pass it on, and so, God's vitalizing, joy-giving message travels on. Be a transmitter of God's blessings.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may pass on my blessings. I pray that they may flow into the lives of others.
From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day
© Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation
NA - Just for Today
Change and growth
Page 185
"When someone points out a shortcoming, our first reaction may be defensive. There will always be room for growth."
Basic Text, p. 36
Recovery is a process that brings about change in our lives. We need that change if we are to continue our growth toward freedom. It's important that we remain open-minded when others point out our shortcomings, for they are bringing to light opportunities for us to change and grow. Reacting defensively limits our ability to receive the help they are offering us; letting go of our defenses opens the door to change, growth, and new freedom.
Each day in the recovery process will bring an opportunity for further change and growth. The more we learn to greet change with an open mind and heart, the more we will grow and the more comfortable we will become with our recovery.
Just for Today: I will greet each opportunity for growth with an open mind.
From the book Just for Today
© Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Thought for Today
We drink to solve the problems we caused while we were drinking
The Line
There was a line that had been crossed,
somewhere along the way…
I cannot say upon what occasion,
I can’t pinpoint the day.
No way to know just where or how,
I lurched this loathsome line…
I did not heed the hazard,
I shunned the warning sign.
I had passed into a region,
of which there’s no return
…wandering and wasted,
not knowing where to turn.
I’ve veered into a vortex,
of sorrow and regret…
a place I can't forego,
a place I won't forget.
Lured by obsession,
as a moth to a flame…
fettered by fear,
shackled by shame,
broken in spirit,
of body and mind.
I’ll take with me my flesh and blood,
…and leave my soul behind.
In my wake I strew the wreckage,
of the bridges that I burned,
is this line a blessing,
or a lesson to be learned?
Be forewarned my fellow friends,
for you too know this line.
This subtle foe we’ve come to know,
…was once a friend of mine.
Gordon R.
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
Real peace will arise spontaneously
When your mind becomes free of attachments,
When you know that the objects of the world
Can never give you what you really want.
-Theragatha
Native American
"What could be greater than to be Wakan-Tanka's mind, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, hands, legs, and feet here on earth?"
--Fools Crow, LAKOTA
In order for the Creator to do His work on this earth, He needs the human being to do it. How He guides us is through our eyes, ears, hands, nose, mouth, arms legs and feet. We are instruments of the Creator. We are His keepers of the earth. We are the keepers of our brothers. We are to teach His children. We are to respect the things He has made. We are to take care of ourselves and treat our bodies and our minds with respect. We are to do respectful things. We are to walk the Sacred Path. We should have good thoughts. We should do only things that we think the Creator would have us do. What an honor to be a human being. What an honor that He would talk to us and guide us to perform His wonders.
Oh Great Spirit, let me appreciate the role you have given me. Let my sense be sharp to hear Your voice. Keep my mind clean so I can do the things You would have me do.
Keep It Simple
Hell is not to love anymore. --- Geogre Bernanos
Someone in an AA group said, "From the first day I started this program, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven." This person had walked into a room full of love. In recovery, we are spiritual people because we believe in love. We have faith in love.
Love is respect. Love is truth with kindness. Love is being willing to forgive and help others.
Love is thinking about how our Higher Power wants us to act. Love is what we do best. We have turned our will and our life over to love.
Prayer for the Day: I pray that I may love all parts of life. Higher Power, help me seek out love, not material things.
Action for the Day: Today, I'll think about what I love about recovery. I will share this with a couple of friends and my Higher Power.
Big Book
Chapter 8 To Wives (pg 112 & top 113)
He probably has several alcoholics among his own acquaintances. You might suggest that you both take an interest in them. Drinkers like to help other drinkers. Your husband may be willing to talk to one of them.
If this kind of approach does not catch your husband’s interest, it may be best to drop the subject, but after a friendly talk your husband will usually revive the topic himself. This may take patient waiting, but it will be worth it. Meanwhile you might try to help the wife of another serious drinker. If you act upon these principles, your husband may stop or moderate. Suppose, however, that your husband fits the description of number two. The same principles which apply to husband number one should be practice. But after his next binge, ask him if he would really like to get over drinking for good. Do not ask that he do it for you or anyone else. Just would he like to?
The chances are he would. Show him your copy of this book and tell him what you have found out about alcoholism. Show him that as alcoholics, the writers of the book understand. Tell him some of the interesting stories you have read. If you think he will be shy of a spiritual remedy, ask him to look at the chapter on alcoholism. Then perhaps he will be interested enough to continue.
--------------------------------
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"Though subject to considerable variation, it all boiled down into a pretty consistent procedure which comprised six steps. These were approximately as follows:
1. "We admitted that we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol.
2. "We made a moral inventory of our defects or sins.
3. "We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence.
4. "We made restitution to all those we have harmed by our drinking.
5. "We tried to help other alcoholics, with no thought of reward in money or prestige.
6. We prayed to whatever God we thought there was for power to practice these precepts.
"This was the substance of what, by the fall of 1938, we were telling newcomers. Several of the Oxford Groups other ideas and attitudes had been definitely rejected, including any which could involve us in theological controversy."
( Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 160) [thanks Ronny H]
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