AA Thought For Today - August

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AA Thought for the Day

August 31

Obsession
The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking
is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.
The persistence of this illusion is astonishing.
Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death. . .
The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be,
has to be smashed.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30

Thought to Ponder . . .
When we try to control our drinking, we have already lost control.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Absolute Abstinence.

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

A New World
"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.
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty,
resentment, and fear.
When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them.
We discuss them with someone immediately
and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.
Then we resolutely turn our thoughts
to someone we can help."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 84

Thought to Consider . . .
Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F I T = Faith, Intuition, and Trust

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

Pathway
From "He Had Been Listening":
"In thinking all this over, it finally became obvious to me that the God I thought had judged and damned me had done nothing of the sort. He had been listening, and in His own good time His answer came. His answer was threefold: the opportunity for a life of sobriety; Twelve Steps to practice, in order to attain and maintain that life of sobriety; fellowship within the program, ever ready to sustain and help me each twenty-four- hour day.
"St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 11

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

"My past sobriety is not a ticket to future sobriety. I have to pay that fare and make the decision to recover daily."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1953
"A Fragment of History: Origin of the Twelve Steps"
The Language of the Heart

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

"Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the
past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out
of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we
haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was
agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over
alcohol."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg.76~

"We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: 'Once an
alcoholic, always an alcoholic.' Commencing to drink after a period
of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 33~

"If you both show a willingness to remedy your own defects, there will be little need to criticize each other."
-Alcoholics Anonymous p. 118 (To Wives)

"To escape looking at the wrongs we have done another, we resentfully focus on the wrong he has done us."
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 78 (Step Eight)

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Many newcomers, having experienced little but constant deflation, feel a growing conviction that human will is of no value whatever. They have become persuaded, sometimes rightly so, that many problems besides alcohol will not yield to a headlong assault powered only by the individual's will.
However, there are certain things which the individual alone can do. All by himself, and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. When he acquires willingness, he is the only one who can then make the decision to exert himself along spiritual lines. Trying to do this is actually an act of his own will. It is a right use of this faculty.
Indeed, all of A.A.'s Twelve Steps require our sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust, to God's will.

Prayer for the Day: Tomorrow is yet to be, but should God grant me another day, the hope, courage, and strength, through the working of the Twelve Steps and the Serenity Prayer, I shall be sufficiently provided for to meet my every need. This I believe.