AA Thoughts For Today - February

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AA Thought for the Day

February 9

Self-reliance Failed Us

Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good
as far as it went, but it didn’t go far enough. Some of us once had
great self-confidence, but it didn’t fully solve the fear problem, or
any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse. Perhaps there is
a better way—we think so. For we are now on a different basis;
the basis of trusting and relying upon God.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 68

Thought to Ponder
Reliance on God enables me to match calamity with serenity.

AA-related 'Alconym'
W O W = Willingness Over Willpower.

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

Martyrdom
Self-pity is one of the most unhappy
and consuming defects that we know.
It is a bar to all spiritual progress
and can cut off all effective communication with our fellows
because of its inordinate demands for attention
and sympathy.
It is a maudlin form of martyrdom;
which we can ill afford.
Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 238

Thought to Consider . . .
Poor me! Poor me! Pour me a drink.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
N U T S = Not Using The Steps

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

Peace
From "Infinite Need":
"In practice, I have always found it rather difficult to let Allah's superior and
flawless will prevail in my life and govern my will. However, when I make
humble efforts, serenely accepting His will for me at some moment in my life,
I feel absolutely relieved of the load I have carried on my shoulders. The mind
does not wander any more [sic], and the heart is full of happiness at every
breath I take." Karachi, Pakistan
1973 AAWS, Inc., printed 2004; Came to Believe, pg. 21

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

"The Secret is, there is no Secret! Working the Steps with a sponsor, going to meetings, helping others, and above all, keeping God and sobriety first have kept me sober almost five years now. I always had heard that things in plain sight are the hardest to find!"
Vandalia, Ill., February 2001
From: "The Secret"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"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

"When people presented us with spiritual approaches, how frequently
did we all say, "I wish I had what that man has. Im sure it
would work if I could only believe as he believes. But I cannot
accept as surely true the many articles of faith which are so plain
to him." So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at a
simpler level."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47~

Looking at Step Five, we decided that an inventory, taken alone, wouldn't be enough.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 108

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to
the belief that to satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the
world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.
We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank
to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.
In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the
perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfactions were
simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please help me through today. Help me share your wisdom and glory with others so they
may benefit from your love.