AA Thoughts For Today - April

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AA Thought for the Day

April 7

Usefulness
Gradually, I grew to understand that normal living meant being useful where I was, accepting where I was,
and not hankering after all those big things. . .
Even as an alcoholic staying sober one day at a time at home, I could be worthwhile and step out of self-pity by stepping out of self. . .
I came to view service as the opposite of uselessness. The Big Book kept its promise for me.
For this change in outlook, for seeing my worth where I am, I have become most grateful and happy in the everyday activities of life,
all given back to me by the beautiful AA program and my God.
- The AA Grapevine, September, 1984

Thought to Ponder . . .
Into service out of self.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
Y A N A = You Are Not Alone.

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

Fear
"At heart we had all been abnormally fearful.
It mattered little whether we had sat on the shore of life
drinking ourselves into forgetfulness
or had plunged in recklessly and willfully
beyond our depth and ability.
The result was the same -
all of us had nearly perished
in a sea of alcohol."
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 123-4

Thought to Consider . . .
I didn't make it all the way to the beach
to drown in the sand.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F E A R
Fools Every Alcoholic Repeatedly.

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

Choices
>From "The Family Afterward":
"Many alcoholics are enthusiasts. They run to extremes. At the beginning of recovery a man will take, as a rule, one of
two directions. He may either plunge into a frantic attempt to get on his feet in business, or he may be so enthralled by
his new life that he talks or thinks of little else. In either case certain family problems will arise."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 126-26

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

"May those who come to know the truth never forget it."
Mulberry, Florida, June 2011
"This Wasted Life,"
AA Grapevine

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

"We alcoholics are sensitive people. It takes some of us a long time
to outgrow that serious handicap."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 125~

"At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not
an end in itself."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 77~

For we had started to get perspective on ourselves, which is another way of saying that we were gaining in humility.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 48

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Self-Respect Through Sacrifice
At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we
made other sacrifices. We had to toss self-justification, self-pity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the
crazy contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry state
and quit blaming others for it.
Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up
what had really been our dearest possessions--our ambition and our illegitimate pride. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 287

Prayer For The Day: Lord God, you are my strength. Hold my hand in my weakness and teach my heart to fly. With
you, there's nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. Hold me tight in your embrace, so that I can be stronger than the
challenges in my life. Amen.