AA Thoughts For Today - May

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AA Thought for the Day

May 29, 2022

Lack of Power

Our human resources, as marshaled by the will, were not sufficient;
they failed utterly. Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find
a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than
ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?
Well, that’s exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable
you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 45

Thought to Ponder
Willpower ... our will-ingness to use a Higher Power.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H E L P = His Ever-Loving Presence.

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

Freedom
"So far, upon the total problem of several million
actual and potential alcoholics in the world,
we have made only a scratch.
In all probability, we shall never be able to touch
more than a fair fraction of the alcohol problem
in all its ramifications.
Upon therapy for the alcoholic himself,
we surely have no monopoly.
Yet it is our great hope that all those
who have as yet found no answer
may begin to find one in the pages of this book
and will presently join us on
the highroad to a new freedom."
Foreword to Second Edition
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. xx-xxi

Thought to Consider....
"Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession."
Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 139

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
SOBRIETY
Stay Off Booze Recovery Is Everything To You

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

Surrender
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"In medicine, we have learned a great deal about the physical treatment of the alcoholic. We have learned about
nutrition and the importance of a fully rounded diet, and vitamins and minerals. But we do know that these things are
necessary in the physical treatment and rehabilitation of the alcoholic. We know also that various kinds of drying out and
other forms of therapy have failed. They are not enough by themselves. We need something more.
"We know also that religious exhortation has failed, as has exhortation from people who have no grasp of the problem,
who oversimplify, people in whose view an alcoholic is a person who is perpetually thirsty with a fierce craving for
alcohol, people who do not know that a great many alcoholics hate alcohol worse than poison when they are sober,
because they know that it is poison.
"[A]s time went on I became less and less astonished as I saw the effectiveness of your work, as I saw a man of great
talent, a close friend of mine, a man who was almost on the verge of genius. I saw alcohol make its insidious inroads
upon his career, upon his relationships with his family and children, upon his standing in the community.
"I saw him on the verge of losing his job, and I saw him lose his job; and then I saw him surrender. I saw him throw up
his hands and quit, saying, 'I can't do it by myself. I've got to have help.' And with the spiritual help of his clergyman and
A.A., I have seen that man come back to a commanding position in his field, a man who is as sober today, as clear-
eyed and bright, as any person in this audience." Dr. W. W. Bauer, 1955
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 241-43

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

"Whatever strengthens the spirituality of the group strengthens my spirituality, and vice versa."
May 2006
"Tradition Five: What a Group 'Ought' to Be"
AA Grapevine

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

"We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones.
Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will
make alcoholics of our kind like other men. We have tried every
imaginable remedy. In some instances there has been brief recovery,
followed always by a still worse relapse. Physicians who are
familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a
normal drinker out of an alcoholic. Science may one day accomplish
this, but it hasn't done so yet."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 30~

"When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all
you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don't
waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 90

Meditation is something which can always be further developed.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 101

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confusion of shortcomings which the Steps
require. But we saw that the program really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness of life as
we had been living it.
When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but
to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet.
Implicit throughout A.A.s Traditions is the confession that our Fellowship has its sins. We admit that we have character
defects as a society and that these defects threaten us continually. our Traditions are a guide to better ways of working
and living, and they are to group survival and harmony what A.A.s Twelve Steps are to each member's sobriety and
peace of mind.

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I am thankful for the wonderful ways in which You take care of me. I do appreciate Your watchcare over my family and friends. Lord, I do desire to remain humble in my dealings with others who oppose me. Give me Your grace and wisdom when I must handle controversy. May I be humble when I am tested in this way and trust You to defend me instead of getting into contention with others. Lord, bless those who are reading this today and strengthen them to do Your will. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.