AA Thoughts For Today - May

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AA Thought for the Day

May 1

An Important Milestone
For many of us, the admission that we are alcoholics was so difficult, painful, embarrassing, and shocking
that we arrived in the program just by saying the words "I'm an alcoholic." Some of us held back, afraid to let the words out.
Others of us were defiant, obstinately refusing to be railroaded by a bunch of eager beavers with the Big Book in hand.
When the moment of admission finally came, it was a milestone of immeasurable importance.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], p. 22

Thought to Ponder . . .
Once we clear a hurdle, it doesn't seem so high.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Aware.

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

Choices
"During the day, we can pause
where situations must be met and decisions made,
and renew the simple request:
'Thy will, not mine, be done.'
If at these points our emotional disturbance
happens to be great,
we will more surely keep our balance,
provided we remember,
and repeat to ourselves,
a particular prayer or phrase that has appealed to us
in our reading or meditation.
Just saying it over and over will often enable us
to return to the surest help of all--
our search for God's will, not our own,
in the moment of stress."
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 102-3
As Bill Sees It, p. 78

Thought to Consider . . .
"As we go through the day we pause,
when agitated or doubtful,
and ask for the right thought or action."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 87

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
FEAR
False Evidence Appearing Real

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

Conference
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
In the late 1940s "most of the nonalcoholics on the Board at the time had been institutional [non-profit organization]
men. Bernard Smith on the other hand was a businessman and lawyer. From the time he had joined the Board, three
years earlier, he had always favored corporate management for the A.A. office and an elected conference to sit with the
Trustees as the final plan of service structure for Alcoholics Anonymous. "
Chairman Leonard Harrison appointed "Bernard Smith Chairman of the Trustees' Committee on the proposed
Conference [despite] their differences of opinion.
"Bernard Smith has a remarkable faculty for persuasion and negotiation. Moreover, his ideas about a conference had
already taken a deeper hold than any of us realized. [H]e took up the task of convincing the Trustees committee on the
Conference. He put this question to the committee: Shall we set up this Conference of delegates, or shall we forget
about it? To my astonishment the committee unanimously said, 'Let's give the Conference a try.' It seemed like a miracle."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 212

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

"I had been introverted and tense. I had been blocked by a fat ego that made sharing impossible, by a lack of
communication, by a fear of love. The Fifth Step swept away all those barricades. With some humility, I could begin to
find joy in the simple delights of life."
Brooklyn, N.Y. June 1974
"The Fifth Step -- A Way to Stay High,"
Step By Step

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

"If there be divorce or separation, there should be no undue haste
for the couple to get together. The man should be sure of his
recovery. The wife should fully understand his new way of life. If
their old relationship is to be resumed it must be on a better basis,
since the former did not work. This means a new attitude and spirit
all around. Sometimes it is to the best interests of all concerned
that a couple remain apart. Obviously, no rule can be laid down.
Let the alcoholic continue his program day by day. When the time for
living together has come, it will be apparent to both parties."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 99

"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will
be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new
freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to
shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness
and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things
and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our
whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and
of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to
handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize
that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 83~

We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 21

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We Are Not Fighting
We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol. For by this time sanity has returned. We can now react
sanely and normally, and we find that this has happened almost automatically. We see that this new attitude toward
liquor is really a gift of God.
That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We have not even sworn off. Instead,
the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid.
That is how we react--so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 84-85

Prayer For The Day: Oh Heavenly Father, in whom I live and move and have my being, I humbly pray to you to guide and govern me by your Holy Spirit, that in all the joys, occupations, and cares of this day I may never forget you, but remember that I am ever walking in your sight. In Christ's name, I pray, Amen.