AA Thoughts For Today - December

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AA Thought for the Day

December 20

Working the Program
Many of us found that the sooner we started work on the Twelve Steps
offered as a program of recovery in the book "Alcoholics Anonymous," the better.
Others of us felt the need to postpone this until we had been sober a little while.
The point is, there is no prescribed "right" way or "wrong" way.
Each of us uses what is best for himself or herself --
without closing the door on other kinds of help we may find valuable at another time.
And each of us tries to respect others' rights to do things differently.
- Living Sober, p. 2

Thought to Ponder . . .
The Program was a dazzling gem being dangled before my eyes.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O P E = Heart Open; Please Enter.

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

Choices
Looking back we see that our freedom to choose badly
was not, after all, a very real freedom.
When we chose because we "must,"
this was not a free choice either.
But it got us started in the right direction.
When we chose because we "ought to"
we were really doing better.
This time we were earning some freedom,
making ourselves ready for more.
But when, now and then, we could gladly make
right choices without rebellion, holdout, or conflict,
then we had our first glimpse of what perfect freedom
under God's will could be like.
Bill W., May 1960
c. 1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 302

Thought to Consider . . .
Sobriety is a choice and a treasure.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C H A N G E = Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Every day

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

Compensation
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"Shortly after the financial investigation episode, Father Ed Dowling, our Jesuit friend from St. Louis, turned up in New
York. Still puzzled, I put the case up to him. He asked, 'Do you think A.A. requires your full-time efforts?' I replied, 'Yes, I
think it does, perhaps indefinitely.' Then he inquired, 'Could you become a paid therapist, taking money for Twelfth Step
work?' I told him that this issue had been settled long since. Most emphatically I could not, regardless of the
consequences, nor could any other A.A. member.
"This meant that Dr. Bob and I must certainly never accept money for Twelfth Step work but that we could be
recompensed for special services. We both accepted Father Ed's down-the-middle advice and have stuck by it ever
since, and I am glad to say this status for Dr. Bob and me was later accepted as correct in principle by our entire
fellowship."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 195

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

"Like every AA member I have a definite responsibility to become a citizen of the world around me; to channel into it the

experience of living and working which has been mine in our Fellowship. "
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., November 1961
"Again at the Crossroads"
The Language of the Heart

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

"We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do
for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally
positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system,
something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes
it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any
alcoholic will abundantly confirm this."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 22~

"Many doctors and psychiatrists agree with our conclusions. One of
these men, staff member of a world renowned hospital, recently made
this statement to some of us, "What you say about the general
hopelessness of the average alcoholics plight is, in my opinion,
correct. As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no
doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine
help. Had you offered yourselves as patients at this hospital, I would
not have taken you, if I had been able to avoid it. People like you
are too heartbreaking. Though not a religious person, I have profound
respect for the spiritual approach in such cases as yours. For most
cases, there is virtually no other solution."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~

We want to leave you with the feeling that no situation is too difficult and no unhappiness too great to be overcome.
-Alcoholics Anonymous p.104

And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.104

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Perhaps you raise the question of hallucination verses the divine imagery of a genuine spiritual experience. I doubt if anyone has authoritatively defined what an hallucination really is. However, it is certain that all recipients of spiritual experiences declare for their reality. The best evidence of that reality is in the subsequent fruits. Those who receive these gifts of grace are very much changed people, almost invariably for the better. This can scarcely be said of those who hallucinate.
Some might think me presumptuous when I say that my own experience is real. Nevertheless, I can surely report that in my own life and in the lives of countless others, the fruits of that experience have been real, and the benefactions beyond reckoning.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, When I do wrong, help me admit to it. Lord, When I do wrong, help me to leave nothing out. Lord, When I do wrong, help me to swallow my pride. Lord, When I do wrong, help me to do right. Amen.