AA Thoughts For Today - January

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

January 12

Humility

Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it
now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.
This improved perception of humility starts another revolutionary change
in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have
come straight out of painful ego-puncturing.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) p. 74

Thought to Ponder . . .
The difference between pride and humility:
Pride is who is right. Humility is what is right.

AA-related 'Alconym'
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps.

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

Reprieve
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action
and rest on our laurels.
We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.
We are not cured of alcoholism.
What we have is a daily reprieve
contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
Every day is a day when we must carry the vision
of God's will into all our activities.
"How can I best serve Thee -- Thy will (not mine) be done."
These are thoughts which must go with us constantly.
We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish.
It is the proper use of the will.
c. 1976, 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85

Thought to Consider . . .
The alcoholic is in no greater peril
than when he takes sobriety for granted.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Acceptance, Trust.

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

Caring
From "Serving My Brother":
"I frequently ask God to help me watch over my thoughts and words, that they may be the true and proper reflections of our program; to focus my aspirations once again to seek His guidance; to help me be truly kind and loving, helpful and healing, yet always filled with humility, and free from any trace of arrogance."
1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily Reflections, pg. 29

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

"Sometimes when I think I am having a bad day, I am really learning a hard lesson, cheap. And sometimes, when I think I am having a good day, I am really in trouble and just haven't recognized it yet. I'm really no judge at all of what kind of day I'm having."
Brentwood, Tenn., April 1991
"Good Days and Bad Days"
AA Grapevine

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

Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an
altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is
very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that
a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then
a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxvi~

"When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and
physically."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 64~

To a surprising extent, A.A. has offset the damage to family life brought about by years of alcoholism.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.117

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Pride is the basic breeder of most human difficulties, the chief block to true progress. Pride lures us into making demands upon ourselves or upon others which cannot be met without perverting or misusing our God-given instincts. When the satisfaction of our instincts for sex, security, and a place in society becomes the primary object of our lives, then pride steps in to justify our excesses.
I may attain 'humility for today' only to the extent that I am able to avoid the bog of guilt and rebellion on one hand and, on the other hand, that fair but deceiving land which is strewn with the fool's-gold coins of pride. This is how I can find and stay on the highroad to humility, which lies between these extremes. Therefore, a constant inventory which can reveal when I am off the road is always in order.

Prayer for the Day: Jesus, shine through me and be so in me that every person I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Amen.