AA Thoughts For Today - July

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AA Thought for the Day

July 18

Change in Attitude

During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound
result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. And this was true
whether we had been believers or unbelievers. We began to get over the
idea that the Higher Power was a sort of bush-league pinch hitter, to be
called upon only in an emergency. The notion that we would still live our
own lives, God helping a little now and then, began to evaporate.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) p. 75

Thought to Ponder
Humility is dependence on God, as pride is independence of Him.

AA-related 'Alconym'
W I L L I N G = When I Live Life, I Need God.

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

Fellowship
"We were still trying to find emotional security
by being dominating or dependent upon others.
Even when our fortunes had not ebbed that much
and we nevertheless found ourselves alone in the world,
we still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy
kind of domination or dependence.
For those of us who were like that,
AA had a very special meaning.
Through it we begin to learn right relations
with people who understand us;
we don't have to be alone any more."
1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 116-17

Thought to Consider . . .
Who we are is God's gift to us.
Who we become is our gift to God.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
Y A N A = You Are Not Alone.

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

Good Question
From: "Easy Does It"
"When we find ourselves up-tight and even frantic, we can ask ourselves occasionally, Am I really that indispensable?
or Is this hurry really necessary? What a relief to find the honest answer is frequently no! And such devices actually
serve, in the long run, not only to help us get over the drinking problem and its old ways; they also enable us to become
far more productive, because we conserve and channel our energy better. We arrange priorities more sensibly. We
learn that many actions once considered vital can be eliminated if they are thoughtfully reexamined. How much does it
really matter? is a very good question."
1998, AAWS, Inc., Living Sober, pages 45-46

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

"Isn't a donation of my time and services just as important as my donation of cash? What if my home group had
money for coffee, rent, and literature, but no one to open the meeting room and make the coffee?"
Manassas, Virginia, July 1992
"AA Needs More Than Just Money,"
AA Grapevine

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

"Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to
do is to keep sober. Certainly he must keep sober, for there will be
no home if he doesn't. But he is yet a long way from making good to
the wife or parents whom for years he has so shockingly treated."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 82

"Another principle we observe carefully is that we do not relate
intimate experiences of another person unless we are sure he would
approve. We find it better, when possible, to stick to our own
stories. A man may criticize or laugh at himself and it will affect
others favorably, but criticism or ridicule coming from another often
produces the contrary effect."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 125

"If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning."
-Alcoholics Anonymous p. 71 (How it Works)

"No defect can be corrected unless we clearly see what it is."
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ?p. 58 (Step Five)

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

A very tough-minded prospect was taken to his first A.A. meeting, where two speakers (or maybe lecturers) themed their talks on 'God as I understand Him.' Their attitude oozed arrogance. In fact, the final speaker got far overboard on his personal theological convictions. Both were repeating my performance of years before. Implicit in everything they said was the same idea: 'Folks, listen to us. We have the only true brand of A.A. - and you'd better get it!' The new prospect said he'd had it - and he had. His sponsor protested that this wasn't real A.A. But it was too late, nobody could touch him after that.
I see 'humility for today' as a safe and secure stance midway between violent emotional extremes. It is a quiet place where I can keep enough perspective and enough balance to take my next small step up the clearly marked road that points toward eternal values.

Prayer for the Day: Thank You for allowing me to look deeply into the root of my drinking. Please help me to understand my behavior even more so that I may grow.