*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 1, 2020* *Talked My Language* He gave me information about the subject of alcoholism which was undoubtedly helpful. Of far more importance was the fact that he was the first living human with whom I had ever talked, who knew what he was talking about in regard to alcoholism from actual experience. In other words, he talked my language. He knew all the answers, and certainly not because he had picked them up in his reading. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Doctor Bob's ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 31, 2019* *Road Of Happy Destiny* 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. May God bless you and keep you—until then. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (A Vision For You) p. 164. Thought to Ponder Sobriety is ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 30, 2019* *Vital Spiritual Experiences* "Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. To me these occurrences are phenomena. They appear to be in the nature of huge emotional displacements and rearrangements. Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once the guiding forces of the lives of these men are suddenly cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begin to dominate the ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) December 29, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Resentments and Forgiveness* The quick inventory is aimed at our daily ups and downs, especially those where people or new events throw us off balance and tempt us to make mistakes. In all these situations we need self-restraint, honest analysis of what is involved, a willingness to admit when the fault is ours, and an equal willingness to forgive when the fault is elsewhere.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 28, 2019* *Tradition Five* "Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers." "SHOEMAKER, stick to thy last!"... better do one thing supremely well than many badly. That is the central theme of this Tradition. Around it our Society gathers in unity. The very life of our Fellowship requires the preservation of this principle. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Tradition Five) p. 150. Thou ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 27, 2019* *Tradition One* "Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity." The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it. We stay whole, or A.A. dies. Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God; His gift to us would be spent aimlessly. - Twe ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 26, 2019* *Joy of Living* The joy of living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word. Here we turn outward toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards.  Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 106. Thought to Pon ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 25, 2019* *A Christmas Greeting* Dear Friends: Gratitude is just about the finest attribute we can have, and how deeply we of AA realize this at Christmastime. We know that our very lives, our miraculous new chance to live, to learn, to grow and to serve, is the supreme gift of Grace which has come to us from Him who presides over us all. May we joyfully meditate upon these precious blessings as never before. -- Bill W. - AA Grapevine, The December 1963 magaz ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 24, 2019* *Our Twelfth Suggestion* Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 89 Thought to Ponder Get it - Give it - Grow in it. AA-rela ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 23, 2019* *Step Eleven* Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) pp. 85 - 86 Thought to Ponder Life is fragile, handle with prayer. AA-related 'Alconym' *P A U S E*  =  *P*ay *A*ttention, *U*se *S*tep *E*leven. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of y ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) December 22, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Miracle of Healing* What is this but a miracle of healing? Yet its elements are simple. Circumstances made him willing to believe. He humbly offered himself to his Maker—then he knew. Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. To this man, the revelation was sudden. Some of us grow  more slowly. But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 57  Th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 21, 2019* *Step Ten* This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 84 Th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 20, 2019* *Step Nine* We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. His faults are not discussed. We stick to our own. If our manner is calm, frank, and open, we will be gratified with the result. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) pp. 77 - 78 Thought to Ponder Wisdom is knowing the right path to take; integrity is taking it. AA-related ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 19, 2019* *Steps Eight and Nine* Now we need more action, without which we find that "Faith without works is dead." Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self-appraisal. Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past.. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76 Thought to ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 18, 2019* *Ready* When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen."   We have then completed Step Seven. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76 Thought to Ponder Humility ...Continue Reading