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A Prayer & Some Thoughts - June
June 1
Feeling Fearful Prayer Lord, I am feeling fearful right now, I need your comfort and assurance. Take away my fears and replace them with your peace. Give me your comfort and assurance. Help me to not lose heart but renew my spirit each day. Thank you for not giving me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We are so glad to be free from alcohol that we do something about it. We get into action. We come to meetings regularly. We go out and try to help other alcoholics. We pass on the good news whenever we get a chance. In a spirit of thankfulness to God, we get into action. The A.A. program is simple. Submit yourself to God, find release from alcohol, and get into action. Do these things and keep doing them and you're all set for the rest of your life. So ............ Have I got into action? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Suffering Knowing that others have survived experiences equally devastating as ours, gives us hope, but it doesn't diminish our own personal suffering. Nor should it; out of suffering comes new understanding. Suffering also encourages our appreciation of the lighter, easier times. Pain experienced fully enhances the times of pleasure. Our sufferings are singular, individual, and lonely. But our experiences with it can be shared; thereby lessening the power they have over us. Sharing our pain with another person also helps them remember that their pain, too, is survivable. Suffering softens us, helps us to feel more compassion and love toward another. Our sense of belonging to the human race, our recognition of the interdependence and kinship of us all, are the most cherished results of the gift of pain. Each of our sufferings, sharing them as we do, strengthens me and heals my wounds of alienation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trouble There was a time when we ignored trouble, hoping it would go away. Or, in fear and depression, we ran from it, but found it was still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed our destruction, unless they were altered. Then came AA. Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could, under God's grace, be converted into unimaginable blessings. As Bill Sees It Page 110 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes “Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” ~ Karl Augustus Menninger “We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” ~ Seneca |
June 2
Growing Older Prayer Lord, You know that I am growing older. Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject. Release me from the craving to straighten out everyone's affairs. Keep me from the recital of endless detail. Give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are increasing with the years and my love to speak of them grows sweeter as time goes by. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong. Make me thoughtful but not nosey; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom and experience it does seem a pity not to use it all. But You know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. ~From: Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR (Franciscan Order) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The A.A. program is one of faith, hope, and charity. It's a program of hope because when new members come into A.A., the first thing they get is hope. They hear older members tell how they had been through the same kind of hell that they have and how they found the way out through A.A. And this gives them hope that if others can do it, they can do it. So ............ Is hope still strong in me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Our Own Pain Sometimes we walk around with chips on our shoulders. We're like a tightly wound spring ready to jump at the slightest trigger, when other times we would let the same event go unnoticed. We even say self-righteously, "I didn't start it. Maybe we have a problem with being like a spring ready to jump. When we are like that, we are difficult to live with or be around. We can change by getting in touch with our pain. We need to explore our feelings. Perhaps we need to be honest with ourselves about low self-esteem, about feelings of loneliness or fear. Then we must talk with another person or our group about our feelings and continue to talk about them. In this way we become reconciled to ourselves and to our friends around us. God, help me accept my own pain, and help me be tolerant of my friends' mistakes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honesty I know the biggest word for me in AA is "honesty." I don't believe this program would work for me if I didn't get honest with myself about everything. Honesty is the easiest word for me to understand because it is the exact opposite of what I've been doing all my life. Therefore, it will be the hardest to work on. But I will never be totally honest -- that would make me perfect, and none of us can claim to be perfect. Only God is. Experience, Strength and Hope Pages 400-401 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” ~ Spencer Johnson |
June 3
Dealing With Negative People Prayer Dear Lord, Please help me when those around me try to bring me down. Allow me to recognize the hurts and issues in their lives and how I can be of help to them. Help me to keep my natural human tendencies in check and not to retaliate back. Quietly remind me where my true worth and value really lie. Give me comfort in knowing that You are leading me on a better path and give me the strength to continue pursuing it. Please clear my heart of any issues that will hinder me from praying for those around me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought There is some alcoholic thought, conscious or unconscious, that comes before every slip. As long as we live, we must be on the lookout for such thoughts and guard against them. In fact, our A.A. training is mostly to prepare us, to make us ready to recognize such thoughts at once and to reject them at once. The slip comes when we allow such thoughts to remain in our minds, even before we go through the motions of lifting the glass to our lips. The A.A. program is largely one of mental training. So ............ How well is my mind prepared? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Self-Pity "Ah, poor me," we sometimes say, "I have to work so hard!" "I have so much stress!" "If only my problem with money would get better, then I could be content!" "I just don't understand people!" "Why can't my family have fewer troubles?" This attitude of self-pity is as ancient as humanity. Every person has problems and challenges, and life often is not fair. Self-pity becomes a stumbling block when we get so narrowly focused upon our problems. We forget we are a part of a whole throng of fellow pilgrims on this path. It helps to notice others beside ourselves who are seeking courage to live their lives. Sometimes we reawaken our awareness of our God by seeing that we are "carried on great winds across the sky." We have many blessings; we are not alone. Often within problems we discover our greatest blessings. I will ask God to help me find the spiritual path in the choices I make today. Help me turn away from self-pity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fear We have had a much keener look at ourselves and those about us. We have seen that we were prodded by unreasonable fears and anxieties into making a life business of winning fame, money, and what we thought was leadership. So false pride became the reverse side of that ruinous coin marked 'Fear.' We simply had to be Number One people to cover up our deep-lying inferiorities. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 123 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Continuing to beat our heads against the brick walls of past failures is insanity. We have a new life to live, provided we relinquish the attitudes and behavior, which we now know to be insane." ~ Cristina Ferrare |
June 4
A Morning Prayer I come before you O Lord As the sun rises may your hope rise up in me. As the birds sing may your love flow out of me. As the light floods into this new day, May your joy shine through me. I come before you, O Lord And drink in this moment of peace, That I may carry something of your hope, love and joy Today in my heart. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought If we allow an alcoholic thought to lodge in our minds for any length of time, we are in danger of having a slip. Therefore we must dispel such thoughts at once, by refusing their admittance and by immediately putting constructive thoughts in their place. Remember that alcohol is poison to you. Remember that it is impossible for you to drink normally. Remember that one drink will lead to another and you will eventually be drunk. Remember what happened to you in the past as a result of your drinking. Think of every reason you have learned in A.A. for not taking that drink. Fill your mind with constructive thoughts. So ............ Am I keeping my thoughts constructive? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Prejudice In recovery I am accepting that I am not perfect and some prejudices are part of my life what it is to be human. On a daily basis I am trying to deal with them, and talking about them helps. They don't go away just because I talk about them, but I get them in perspective and I grow in an understanding of myself through the recognition of my prejudices. Alcoholism made me into a “fake. " I appeared to be what I was not and my prejudices were part of the camouflage. My prejudices revealed my fears and my need to "people-please". Slowly, in my daily spiritual program, I am discovering the courage to stand alone. "Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices just recognize them." ~ Edward R. Murrow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hope Hope is the priceless ingredient for recovery. This, AA gives most frequently not in mere words. Upon the alcoholic's first contact with AA, as he looks across the room and sees men and women respectably clothed and in their right minds, enjoying themselves, that flicker of hope begins to burn. And he says to himself, "If those jokers can do it, I can." The first need, beyond any other, is hope. Without it, there is nothing. The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], Pages 156-157 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson |
June 5
Prayer for Wisdom In everything we do, Lord, give us a desire to seek out the truth; give us a willingness to heed the advice of others; give us wisdom in reaching decisions; give us faith to believe in our conclusions; give us courage to put our ideas to the test; and, if we prove ourselves wrong, give us the grace to admit it. Amen. ~ Jesuit Prayer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The A.A. program is one of faith. Because we find that we must have faith in a Power greater than ourselves if we are going to get sober. We're helpless before alcohol, but when we turn our drinking problem over to God and have faith that He can give us all the strength we need, then we have the drink problem licked. Faith in that Divine Principle in the universe, which we call God is the essential part of the A.A. program. So ............ Is faith still strong in me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Rain and Tears If there were no rain, fields would become parched and brittle, and many creatures would die. If we could not cry, all our emotions would eventually dry up, too, and soon we would not laugh either. Our tears cleanse us. Our tears heal. They make us whole. Tears are as important to our growth as rain is to a flower. They help release the pressure of sadness so we can feel better. After a storm, when the sun shines again through the clouds, a brightly colored rainbow appears. After our tears, our inner sun shines, and rainbows are formed from our pain. How well can I accept my tears as part of my happiness today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Growing Up in AA Life is meant to be lived by facing the challenges it brings. Otherwise, I'm not living, just existing. God didn't give me this gift of sobriety to sit in a rocking chair, imagining myself as some old wise woman who has arrived somewhere. There is no easier, softer way. The Best Of The Grapevine [Vol.3], Page 320 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Our conscience may still guide our actions at times, but as we grow in our recovery, we begin to intuitively know what keeps us on track and in sync with God." ~ Karen Casey |
June 6
For Courage to Do Justice O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others Open my ears that I may hear their cries; Open my heart so that they need not be without succor; Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, And use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. ~ Alan Paton, South Africa, United Methodist ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought People who had a slip are ashamed of themselves--sometimes so ashamed that they fear to go back to A.A. They develop the old inferiority complex and tell themselves that they are no good, that they are hopeless, and that they can never make it. This state of mind is perhaps worse than it was originally. They have probably been somewhat weakened by their slip. But their A.A. training cannot ever be entirely lost. They always know they can go back if they want to. They know there is still God's help for them if they will again ask for it. So ............ Do I believe that I can never entirely lose what I have learned in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Celebrate Look at your life. Look back at the path that you’ve walked this far and celebrate. One of the joys of walking to the top of a mountain is looking back at how far you’ve come. It’s wonderful to stand on a high ridge and see the tiny footpath stretching off into the distance. Celebrate with awe how far you’ve come in those first few steps of sobriety and in your faith and willingness to let go of your fears. Celebrate those first faltering moments of learning what it meant to take care of yourself. Even now, with each step you take, you are being transformed. Celebrate! Turn around. Look. See how far you’ve come. Celebrate the journey that you’ve taken so far. And look forward to the adventure that lies ahead. God, help me celebrate all our triumphs. Thank you for walking with me, even when I felt I was walking alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A New Life Is sobriety all that we are to expect of a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety is only a bare beginning; If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. As it does go on, we find that bit by bit we can discard the old life -- the one that did not work -- for a new life that can and does work under any conditions whatever." As Bill Sees It Page 8 |
June 7
Prayer of Support Lord, Still my tongue. Replace useless words with silent understanding. Let compassion be my guide as I offer help and healing with only my presence and my prayers. I pray that I will know when to speak and when not to. May my support be felt without uttering a single syllable. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The A.A. program is one of charity. The real meaning of the word charity is to care enough about other people to really want to help them. To get the full benefit of the program, we must try to help other alcoholics. We may try to help somebody and think we have failed, but the seed we have planted may bear fruit some time. We never know the results even a word of ours might have. But the main thing is to have charity for others, a real desire to help them, whether we succeed or not. So ............ Do I have real charity? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Others Opinions We all see things differently. It is part of the wonderful variety of the world that we all have different points of view. We've all seen baseball players arguing with an umpire over a close call, but, in order to play the game, they must accept the umpire's judgment. When we stubbornly refuse to let friends or family members speak their ideas simply because we disagree with them, we risk the loss of a friend or the understanding of a family member. It is when we allow others to disagree that we take a step forward--a step that opens our ears and our hearts to all sorts of people and ideas. How well can I accept others opinions today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Tyrant The truth is, that in the life of each AA member, there still lurks a tyrant. His name is alcohol. And his weapons are misery, insanity, and death. No matter how long we may be sober, he always stands at each man's elbow, ever watchful of an opportunity to resume his destruction. The Language of the Heart Page 34 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "To recognize one’s own insanity is, of course, the arising of sanity, the beginning of healing and transcendence." ~ Eckhart Tolle |
June 8
Prayer To Serve Others Lord, Thank You for the opportunity to serve others. I pray that You would continue to instill this value into us and our children. Help us to see others the way you see them. Lord, we pray that You show us the needs of those around us. Help us to be focused on others and in tune to Your Spirit, so that we can help those that are hurting. Lord, give us the grace to serve when it’s hard. Give us the strength to keep going when we are worn out from our own situations. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In A.A. we often hear the slogan "Easy Does It." Alcoholics always do everything to excess. They drink too much. They worry too much. They have too many resentments. They hurt themselves physically and mentally by too much of everything. So when they come into A.A., they have to learn to take it easy. None of us knows how much longer we have to live. It's probable that we wouldn't have lived very long if we had continued to drink the way we used to. By stopping drinking, we have increased our chances of living for a while longer. So ............ Have I learned to take it easy? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Being Happy If only I had a new bike, then I'd be happy. If only my family were more understanding, then I'd be happy. If only my hair were styled better. If only I had more friends. If only... Sometimes we begin to sound like a broken record when things go wrong, so certain that if the events and conditions of our lives were different, we'd be happy. It's an old and unfortunate habit that we look around outside ourselves for happiness. We can never be sure of it if we count on certain conditions to guarantee it. However, we can always be sure of happiness if we carry it with us wherever we go. The happiness habit can be developed, with practice, just as surely as good piano playing or accurate pitching. We can control our own thoughts. The decision to make them happy ones is ours to make. Am I carrying my happiness within me right now? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Only Try I'm glad you are going to try that new job. But make sure that you are only going to 'try.' If you approach the project in the attitude that "I must succeed, I must not fail, I cannot fail,' then you practically guarantee the flop which in turn will guarantee a drinking relapse. But if you look at the venture as a constructive experiment only, then all should go well. As Bill See It Page 214 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “As we lose ourselves in the service of others we discover our own lives and our own happiness.” ~ Dieter F. |
June 9
Prayer for Understanding Lord, As I walk through life, give me wisdom and understanding in every decision I make. Guide my thoughts and direct my steps. When I experience uncertainty and confusion, may I lean on your limitless wisdom. Help me to think clearly and calmly. Help me to act with confidence and wisdom. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought A.A. teaches us to take it easy. We learn how to relax and to stop worrying about the past or the future, to give up our resentments and hates and tempers, to stop being critical of people, and to try to help them instead. That's what "Easy Does It" means. So in the time that's left to me to live, I'm going to try to take it easy, to relax and not to worry, to try to be helpful to others, and to trust God. So ............ For what's left of my life, is my motto going to be "Easy Does It"? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Our Attitudes Meeting life head-on, with a smile, attracts to us people and situations. Our attitudes shape our world - which is not to deny that problems do occur. However, problems can be viewed as special opportunities for personal growth -- as gifts, more or less, that we are ready to receive. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. The stumbling blocks we encounter push us beyond our present awareness. They teach us that we are stronger and more creative than we'd thought. Problem solving is esteem-building. Negatively confronting the day is sure to complicate any experiences. A simple misunderstanding can be exaggerated into a grave situation, requiring the energy of many people to handle it. On the other hand, a patient, trusting, loving attitude can turn a grave situation into a positive learning experience for all affected. How great is my influence today? We can beautify the day by smiling at it and throughout all the experiences it offers us. The expression of love to everyone we meet guarantees to make us more lovable in return. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Action Action is the magic word! With a positive, helpful attitude and regular AA action, I can stay sober and help others to achieve sobriety. My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length to stay sober! Daily Reflections, p. 161 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Willingness is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.” ~ J. W. Reed |
June 10
Prayer for Comfort God, I feel alone, beaten up, tears fill my eyes, I toss and turn at night. Words can’t express the ache in my heart. I feel pain every day. I pray to you as I am desperate for help. Be my refuge from pain, replacing my distress with peace, and be my strength when I feel weak and find it hard to carry on. Help me not to fear the future but to boldly trust that you are in control when my emotions plunge me down, and when I am in despair. And times when I can’t talk and don’t know what to say, help me to “Be still, and know that you are God”. Be my comforter, my healer and bring me peace. Amen from: Mission Australia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The length of time of our sobriety is not as important as the quality of it. A person who has been in A.A. for a number of years may not be in as good mental condition as a person who has only been in a few months. It is a great satisfaction to have been an A.A. member for a long time and we often mention it. It may sometimes help the newer members, because they may say to themselves, if they can do it I can do it. And yet the older members must realize that as long as they live they are only one drink away from a drunk. So ............ What is the quality of my sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Forgiveness Forgiveness fosters humility, which invites gratitude. And gratitude blesses us; it makes manifest greater happiness. The more grateful we feel for all aspects of our lives, the greater will be our rewards. We don't recognize the goodness of our lives until we practice gratitude. And gratitude comes easiest when we're in a forgiving state of mind. Forgiveness should be an ongoing process. Attention to it daily will ease our relationships with others and encourage greater self-love. First on our list for forgiveness should be ourselves. Daily, we heap recriminations upon ourselves. And our lack of self-love hinders our ability to love others, which in turn affects our treatment of them. We've come full circle--and forgiveness is in order. It can free us. It will change our perceptions of life's events, and it promises greater happiness. The forgiving heart is magical. My whole life will undergo a dynamic change when I develop a forgiving heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helping Others When I talk to a newcomer to AA, my past looks me straight in the face. I see the pain in those hopeful eyes, I extend my hand, and then the miracle happens: I become healed. My problems vanish as I reach out to this trembling soul. As Bill Sees It Page 274 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Worry is like a rocking chair -- it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere." ~ Unknown A.A. |
June 11
Prayer for Friendship God, I give thanks today for the friendships in my life. Lord, this life isn’t meant to be lived alone, so I am grateful for the people who walk alongside me, supporting me, loving me, and encouraging me. For we cannot do it all alone but are better together. Help me to be more aware and gracious to my friends, appreciating them and accepting their help. Help me to be a better friend, too, supporting, loving, and encouraging others. Lord, lead me to find and cultivate deeper friendships and be a good friend in all that I do. Shower your blessings upon those I call friends, that you may ever be in our midst. Bind us together, Lord, for a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Amen ~ Kathryn A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When I was drinking, I always tried to build myself up. I used to tell tall stories about myself. I told them so often that I half believe some of them now, even though I know they aren't true. I used to hang around the lowbrow barrooms so I could feel superior to the other customers. The reason I always tried to build myself up was that I knew deep down in my heart that I really didn't amount to anything. It was a kind of defense against my feeling of inferiority. So ............ Do I still build myself up? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Imagination Should you become a doctor or perhaps an astronaut? Maybe being a writer or an athlete appeals to you. Dreaming of what to be can be useful. It helps us set our goals and learn our values. Also, using our imagination lets us "try on" a future role. We learn about our life's direction through our dreams of where to go and what to do. Not all dreams are helpful, however. Sometimes we daydream about other things when we really do need to listen. Learning how to use our imagination to guide our plans for growing up takes practice. Imagining ourselves happy and brave will help us feel both. Imagining ourselves as failures can be just as powerful. Let's respect the power of the imagination and use it to form good images of our future. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After the "Honeymoon" For most of us, the first years of A.A. are something like a honeymoon. There is a new and potent reason to stay alive, joyful activity aplenty. For a time, we are diverted from the main life problems. That is all to the good. But when the honeymoon has worn off, we are obliged to take our lumps, like other people. This is where the testing starts. Maybe the group has pushed us onto the side lines. Maybe difficulties have intensified at home, or in the world outside. Then the old behavior patterns reappear. How well we recognize and deal with them reveals the extent of our progress. As Bill Sees It Page 216 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.”~ Jim Morrison “Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.” ~ Euripedes |
June 12
Healing Prayer God, Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. I pray that my discomforts will turn to comforts, my pains to gains, my deprivation to more blessings, my losses to profits, my tears to smiles, my sorrows to pleasures, my illness to wellness, my debits to credits and my dreams to realities. I trust in you Lord and in you alone to heal me with any form of skepticism. I trust, Lord, that this agony and suffering that is only in my head will come to end and positivism will shine upon me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When drinking, I had to show off and boast so that people would think I amounted to something. But of course, both they and I knew that I really didn't amount to anything. I didn't fool anybody. Although I've been sober for quite a while, the old habit of building myself up is still with me. I still have a tendency to think too well of myself and to pretend to be more than I really am. So ............ Am I always in danger of becoming conceited just because I'm sober? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Slow Down and Live Many of us rush through our days. Often we let ourselves get so busy that we do not enjoy what we are doing. We swallow life in great gulps instead of savoring it moment by moment. Hurry and busyness are forms of self-will. Deluded by an exaggerated sense of our own importance, we deem it crucial to perform all tasks and activities according to our personal schedule. Impatient with traffic tie-ups, other people's slowness, or unavoidable delays, we make ourselves tense and miserable by our refusal to accept life as it comes. Time spent each day in quiet meditation can give us glimpses of God's timelessness. We see that our schedule is not that important after all, when measured against eternity. As the presence of God seeps into our consciousness, we relax into the fullness and peace of each moment. Trusting our Higher Power to order our lives, we can slow down and enjoy His gifts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fellowship The fellowship I found in AA enabled me to face my problem honestly and squarely. I couldn't do it among my relatives, I couldn't do it among my friends. No one likes to admit they're a drunk, that they can't control this thing. But when we come into AA, we can face our problem honestly and openly. I went to closed meetings and open meetings. And I took everything that AA had to give me. It was at that point I reached surrender. Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, Page 340 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “It is better to live one day wisely and reflectively than to live a hundred years in ignorance and indulgence." ~ Buddha |
June 13
Prayer for Cares and Concerns Lord, I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. Amen ~ Chrystal Evans Hurst ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We in A.A. are offering a spiritual program. The fundamental basis of A.A. is belief in some Power greater than ourselves. This belief takes us off the center of the universe and allows us to transfer our problems to some power outside of ourselves. We turn to this Power for the strength we need to get sober and stay sober. We put our drink problem in God's hands and leave it there. We stop trying to run our own life and seek to let God run it for us. So ............ Do I do my best to give spiritual help? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Communicating If we do not tell people what is troubling us, they cannot help. We have sometimes been too proud or too shy to let others know what we were feeling. Exposing our feelings makes us vulnerable, and we often fear that we will be hurt or rejected. We may be trying to preserve a false image of ourselves as self-sufficient and free of problems. Whatever the reasons for our unwillingness to communicate, we are cheating ourselves. By "clamming up," we cut ourselves off from the care and support of those who love us. Honest sharing between individuals opens the way for growth and change. By expressing our thoughts and feelings out loud to another person, we become better able to understand and deal with whatever is bothering us. More importantly, we deepen our relationships with family and friends when we are willing to communicate on a meaningful level. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy--When We're Free We are sure God would like to see us happy, joyous, and free. Hence, we cannot subscribe to the belief that this life necessarily has to be a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it became clear that most of the time we had made our own misery. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 133 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that. What is grievance? The baggage of old thought and emotion." ~ Laozi (Lao Tzu, 4th or 6th century BC, Chinese philosopher) |
June 14
Stress Prayer Dear Lord, I have so many things I’m worried about bombarding my brain. I am so tired from worrying about all of these things. I’m not going to hold them anymore. I cast them on You, knowing You are fully capable of catching them. You carefully hold me, my loved ones, my dreams, and anything else I take care of and love in Your hands. You are infinitely wise, resourceful, powerful, and loving. You can take care of me and everything I care about. Thank You, Lord! Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought It's very important to keep in a grateful frame of mind, if we want to stay sober. We should be grateful that we're living in a day and age when an alcoholic isn't treated as he often used to be treated before Alcoholics Anonymous was started. In the old days, every town had its town drunk who was regarded with scorn and ridiculed by the rest of the townspeople. We have come into A.A. and found all the sympathy, understanding, and fellowship that we could ask for. There's no other group like A.A. in the world. So ............ Am I grateful? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Communicating Clearly We may reduce our difficulties with others to communication problems, yet the remedy may remain unclear. How can we become more responsible for our share of the communication? Can we stop blaming others? When we improve in those ways, our relationships get better. Clear, specific, and direct language will help us be more responsible and less blaming. We can use simple words that expose the truth rather than words that hide or sugarcoat it. We can use specific examples and give details rather than generalities or hints. We can be more direct by using you and me language. In the process, we yield to the truth within ourselves - and become more honest. I will be aware of communicating clearly, specifically, and directly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Willing To Believe Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they might mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which had seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth. But if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So at first we used our own conceptions of God, however limited they were. We needed to ask ourselves but one short question: "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, even in this small degree, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 47 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." ~ Nido Qubein |
June 15
Prayer When Frustrated I feel so frustrated. Give me strength to overcome these negative feelings and to get all the tasks that I have to do, completed, efficiently and effectively, and on time! Calm my mind. Give me peace, as I recollect all the tasks I need to complete. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought I'm grateful that I found the program of A.A. that keeps me sober. I'm grateful that A.A. has shown me the way to faith in a Higher Power, because the renewing of that faith has changed my way of life. And I've found a happiness and contentment that I had forgotten existed, by simply believing in God and trying to live the kind of a life that I know He wants me to live. As long as I stay grateful, I'll stay sober. So ............ Am I in a grateful frame of mind? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Finding Fault Gratitude for what's been offered us in our lives softens the harsh attitudes we occasionally harbor. Life presents us with an assortment of blessings; some bring us immediate joy; some invite tears; others foster fear. What we need help in understanding is that all experiences are meant for our good, all bless us in some manner. If we are able to see the big picture, we'd greet all situations, large and small, with a thankful heart. It's so very easy to wish away our lives, never finding satisfaction with our families, our jobs, and our friends. The more we find fault with life, the more fault we are guaranteed to find. Negative attitudes attract negative experiences; while positive attitudes lighten whatever burden we may be learning from. The years pass so quickly. Our chances to enjoy life pass quickly too. We can grab what comes our way and be grateful. We are never certain that this experience offered now might not be our last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Self-Concern If we cannot or will not achieve sobriety, then we become truly lost, right in the here and now. We are of no value to anyone, including ourselves, until we find salvation from alcohol. Therefore, our own recovery and spiritual growth have to come first -- a right and necessary kind of self-concern. As Bill Sees It Page 81 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes “One of the greatest sources of insecurity and frustration is our tendency to try and change things that we don't have any control of.” ~ Ryan Help “How many times have we attempted the impossible and tried to change other people. Often this ends up being an exercise of frustration as attempting to change others truly is a waste of time!” ~ Catherine Pulsifer |
June 16
A Prayer For Common Sense Lord, give me the common sense to do common sense things. Give me the wisdom to see things as they are and not as I want them to be or as I hope for them to be. Show me the way to use what you have given me rather than letting me long for things I do not have or cannot use. In your ways of working in the world, let the light you have given me be a light for others. When I want to go about my life and build castles in the sky, show me the needs of those around me who hunger for the most humble abodes. When I tend to overlook the most common of people, places, and things, show me these people, places, and things are made by you. Show me the most common people, places, and things are given to me as an opportunity to let your light shine in the world. When I think I need special people, places, things, and circumstances to do your work, show me they are already within my grasp through you. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When drinking we did not practice any self-discipline. We alcoholics used so little self control when we were drinking; we were so absolutely selfish, that it does us good to give up something once in a while. Using self-discipline and denying ourselves a few things is good for us. At first, giving up alcohol is a big enough job for all of us, even with God's help. But later on, we can practice self-discipline in other ways to keep a firm grip on our minds so that we don't start any wishful thinking. If we daydream too much, we'll be in danger of slipping. So ............ Am I practicing enough self-discipline? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Expectations Having too high expectations is a set-up for disappointment. Expectations that are high lend themselves to a fantasy life, and reality can never match our fantasies. When we get hooked on fantasies, somehow thinking they are reality, or should be reality, we are vulnerable to the hurt that accompanies the emergence of "the real." Then we feel cheated - bitter: "Why did this have to happen to me?" Having too high expectations was a familiar feeling before recovery. And it remains familiar to us, even now. Dreams and aspirations aren't wrong. In fact, they beckon us on to better and greater things. But dreams of what we can become through responsible choices are quite different from idle expectations of what will or should be. I will be open and receptive to reality and its gifts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunlight He said, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?" That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last. It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.” – Josh Billings |
June 17
Self-Respect Prayer Dear Lord, Thank You for giving me the richest gift of all: You taught me to respect myself. I have the ability to say “no” to the toxic people in my life. I am able to surround myself with only those who share authentic love through word and deed. I can grow to my full potential. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought One thing that keeps me sober is a feeling of loyalty to the other members of the group. I know I'd be letting them down if I ever took a drink. When I was drinking, I wasn't loyal to anybody. I should have been loyal to my family, but I wasn't. I let them down by my drinking. When I came into A.A., I found a group of people who were not only helping each other to stay sober, but who were loyal to each other by staying sober themselves. So ............ Am I loyal to my group? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Rest When we are tired, we need to stop and give ourselves time to rest. Sometimes we think we can't spare the time. But without rest, all our activity soon becomes a burden and there is no joy in it. Animals know it is necessary to take time to rest. This is part of the rhythm of life: activity and rest, effort and relaxation. Our bad moods are often our body's way of telling us we need rest. When we were little, we needed naps. Somehow, we forget to allow ourselves this right when we are older. We are wise to remember we never outgrow this need for rest to make the day go better. When we return to our day refreshed, we have given ourselves and all those around us the gift of ourselves at our best. I do better when I am rested. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Source of Strength I would tell a friend of mine, who was having the same problems, that I prayed to God not to take a drink today and not to get married today. It was a sort of pact. I was very serious about this. I couldn't seem to handle romance and God too well at the same time. And God did start to give me the strength that I had always thought would come from the man in my life. Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, Pages 102-103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens." ~ Louise L. Hay |
June 18
Prayer of Thanks Sometimes life gets me down and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. I am also thankful for the strength you give me each day and for all the people around me who make life more meaningful. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We can depend on those members of any group who have gone all out for the program. They come to meetings. They work with other alcoholics. We don't have to worry about them slipping. They're loyal members of the group. I'm trying to be a loyal member of the group. When I'm tempted to take a drink, I tell myself that if I did I'd be letting down the other members who are the best friends I have. So ............ Am I going to let them down, if I can help it? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Trust Yourself When you look around, feel insecure, and wonder who you can trust, know you can trust yourself. We often stand like little children, holding out our hands, waiting for someone to lead us somewhere, anywhere. We hope that someone can show us what we need to do next. We think, Maybe someone else knows better. But that thought is often the beginning of trouble. If we choose to let others lead us around, we'll soon find out that they don't know what's best for us. If we abdicate responsibility for our choices,we may become angry, sometimes full of rage at others for running our lives, for telling us what to do. We need to take responsibility. We need to trust ourselves. Sometimes we do get clues or hints from others. Sometimes we get direction from outside ourselves. But it must resonate with our heart. It must resonate with what we know to be true. And the direction we take, what we do next, needs to be our choice, because whether we see it or not, it is our choice. Trust and respond to your own heart. Trust the wisdom and guidance within you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Amends It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt myself, but also those around me. Making amends to my family, and to the families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be important. Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor. The example of my sobriety may give others hope, and faith to help themselves. Daily Reflections Page 173 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ~ Albert Einstein |
June 19
Aging Prayer Oh, God, awaken within me the gift of these years. Teach me to trust so I can face my fears. Teach me to “be” so I can live. Teach me to receive as in this I also give. Let me slow down, savor the moment Then I can hear your whispers spoken. Help me to embrace this “sage-ing” And share it with the youthful aging. Grace me with humility And lead me to your tranquility. For in this utter surrender, I come to accept your grace so tender. Give me courage to face my unanswered questions. Guide me to the soul-filled suggestions. Balance has always been a challenge. Create it in me as my life re-arranges. Loosen my grip, set my spirit free So I can discover who I’m called to be. It’s not easy to lose independence. But I want to trust it’s for greater transcendence. How grateful am I for the gifts I receive? Deepen my faith so I can always believe. Aging well has no map. Just be my source to bridge the gap. Amen ~ Sister Carole Kimes, Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The Twelfth Step of A.A., working with others, can be subdivided into five parts. Five words beginning with the letter C confidence, confession, conviction, con version, and continuance. The first thing in trying to help other alcoholics is to get their confidence. We do this by telling them our own experiences with drinking, so that they see that we know what we're talking about. If we share our experiences frankly, they will know that we are sincerely trying to help them. They will realize that they're not alone and that others have had experiences as bad or worse than theirs. This gives them confidence that they can be helped. So ............ Do I care enough about other alcoholics to get their confidence? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Who You Are Stop criticizing yourself. Stop telling yourself everything you think, feel, want and do is wrong. Or at least not quite right. You’ve been holding back, censoring yourself for too long. Your creativity, your intuition, the voice of your soul is the very voice you’ve been silencing. For many reasons, we learn to criticize and censor ourselves. We may have grown up with people who stifled our inner voice, our wisdom, our knowledge of truth. Our sense of the truth may have caused them to feel uneasy. So they told us to hush. It met their needs to keep us quiet. So we learned to hush ourselves. It was how we survived. No longer do we need to meet other people’s needs, not that way. We don’t have to be afraid of ourselves or what we will find if we look inside. We don’t need to run from ourselves. We don’t need to hide or hush ourselves. We are creative, loving, purposeful beings. It’s time to open up to yourself, to your grandest dreams and aspirations, your real inclinations and desires, your wisdom and knowledge about what is true and what is real. Open up to who you are. Listen to yourself. Express yourself. Enjoy who you are, and you will find others enjoying you,too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Perspective Until I could honestly look at myself and see that I was the problem in many situations and react appropriately inside and out; until I could discard my expectations and understand that my serenity was directionally proportional to them, I could not experience serenity and sound sobriety. Daily Reflections Page 71 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: 'Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have." ~ Harry S. Truman |
June 20
Anxiety and Depression Prayer Dear Lord, I come to You today to ask for help. Lord, I need rest. I give You my worry. Take it, Lord. I accept Your peace, love, and understanding. Help me to turn to You and not to myself. Help me to stop doing and start trusting. Help me to wait on Your answers, because I know that they are good. Give me wisdom, hope, and peace. Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and grace. Amen ~ Lori B. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We come into A.A., looking for a way out of drinking. We really need a lot more than that. We need fellowship. We need to get the things that are troubling us out into the open. We need a new outlet for our energies and we need a new strength beyond ourselves that will help us face life instead of running away from it. In A.A. we find these things that we need. So ............ Have I found the things that I need? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Close Relationships Our mates and close friends present us with another view on what it is to be a human being. In being close we lower our barriers and get a feeling for what life is like from that person's perspective. We develop a feeling of empathy for him or her, and we multiply our life experiences by participating with others. Through our closeness to someone, we might be confronted by a new awareness of ourselves. We may see something about ourselves we don't like and could never have seen on our own. We may see how similar we are to our friends, or how different, or how common and human our problems are. While each person lives their own life, through empathy we are given another window on the experience of living. Having a friend is a rich experience, which increases our wisdom about life. I feel grateful that I am not alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helping Others When trying to help a fellow alcoholic, I've given in to an impulse to give advice, and perhaps that's inevitable. But allowing others the right to be wrong reaps its own benefits. The best I can do -- and it sounds easier than it is to put into practice -- is to listen, share personal experience, and pray for others. Daily Reflections Page 364 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "We could accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible" ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
June 21
Prayer When Afraid In this moment, in the middle of my fear, I ask You to make me strong and courageous. Even if my heart is still pounding. Even if I don’t feel brave at all. Give me the courage to do what You’ve called me to do, even when every muscle in my body wants to sprint in the opposite direction. Help me to act courageous before I feel courageous. Fill me with confidence that You have good things planned for me. Fill me with trust. Fill me so full that there’s no room left for fear. Amen ~ Ben White ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In A.A. we find fellowship and release and strength. Having found these things, the real reasons for our drinking are taken away. Then drinking has no more justification in our minds. We no longer need to fight against drinking. Drinking just naturally leaves us. At first, we are sorry that we can't drink, but we get so that we are glad that we don't have to drink. So ............ Am I glad that I don't have to drink? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Happiness We think we know what will make us happy. Seldom do we readily accept that painful moments are often the price tags for peaceful, happy times. Nor do we appreciate that happiness lives within each of us; never is it intrinsic to the events we experience. Because we look for happiness "out there" and expect it gift-wrapped in a particular way, we miss the joy of being fully alive each passing moment. How distorted our sense of happiness was before finding our way to this program! How futile our search! The path still isn't easy every Step we take, but we will find happiness in those fleeting moments when we can get outside of ourselves long enough to be fully attentive to the people in our lives. We'll find it because it's been there all the time. It flows between us when we open our hearts to give and to receive compassion. Being truly there for another person is the key, which unlocks the gate holding happiness back. I will let someone in today and feel the rush of happiness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answer in the Mirror While drinking, we were certain that our intelligence, backed by will power, could rightly control our inner lives and guarantee us success in the world around us. This brave philosophy, wherein each man played God, sounded good in the speaking, but it still had to meet the acid test: How well did it actually work? One good look in the mirror was answer enough. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 37 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong." ~ Peter T. Mcintyre |
June 22
Prayer to Loving Difficult People Lord, I have to thank You for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs of the difficult people in my life, and show me how to meet those needs. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought What draws newcomers to A.A. and gives them hope? They hear the stories of men and women whose experiences tally with their own. The very practical approach to their problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people in A.A. have is irresistible. So ............ Have I found a real haven in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Disagreements A good relationship includes some disagreement. Anger and disagreement, when we express them respectfully, are important ways of renewing communication and breaking through the walls that sometimes built up. In any relationship we care about, there will be differences. When we avoid all confrontations, our relationships go stale because all emotional issues are avoided. Carefulness and over control undermine love because they don't give it room to breathe, but disagreement and anger expressed in honest and respectful ways will help love grow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carrying the Message We do not keep our program unless we give it away. Our participation in meetings is a means of sharing with others what AA has given us. We are genuinely interested in newcomers, because they remind us of where we came from and because they give us an opportunity to strengthen our own program by sharing what we have received. Practicing the AA principles in all areas of our life is carrying the message. Abstinence and the AA program now occupy the central place in our lives. Following the will of our Higher Power means that we carry the message as He directs us. We are willing to be used in whatever way God moves us to give away our program. ~~ Arianna T. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “In some ways, we will always be different. In other ways, we will always be the same. There is always room to disagree and blame, just as there is always room to take a new perspective and empathize. Understanding is a choice.” -- Vironika Tugaleva |
June 23
Prayer for Self Control Lord, I’m asking you to help me think before I speak and to think before I act. Infuse me with the self discipline I need to walk in your ways, not my own. Help me Lord to control my thoughts, my words and my actions. Let me honor the pause, before I choose to respond. Strengthen me to resist temptation and choose your best for me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought No one is too discredited, nor has sunk too low, to be welcomed cordially into A.A., if he or she means business. Social distinctions, petty rivalries and jealousies are laughed out of countenance. Being wrecked in the same vessel, being restored and united, with hearts and minds attuned to the welfare of others, the things which matter so much to some people no longer signify much to us. In A.A., we have true democracy and true brotherhood. So ............ Has A.A. taught me to be truly democratic? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Pain & Change Pain, repeatedly experienced, indicates a need for self-assessment, an inventory of our behavior. Honest self-appraisal may well call for change, a change in attitude perhaps, a change in specific behavior in some instances, or maybe a change in direction. Each of us must find our own willingness. Each of us must develop attentiveness to the signs that repeatedly invite changes in our behavior. But most of all, each of us has to travel the road to change, singly. Changes we must find the courage to make will never be exactly like someone else's changes. Courage to change accompanies faith. My fears are telling me to look within to the spiritual source of strength, ever present but often forgotten. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That First Drink After that first drink, we had a single track mind. It was like a railroad train. The first drink started it off and it kept going on the single track until it got to the end of the line, drunkenness. We knew this would happen when we sat down at a bar to have the first drink, but still we couldn't keep away from liquor. Our will-power was gone. We had become helpless and hopeless before the power of alcohol. It's not the second drink or the tenth drink that does the damage. It's the first drink. Will I ever take that first drink again? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “See, alcoholism is exactly like bubble gum. You know when you blow a bubble and it bursts, some of the gum sticks to you chin? What's the only thing that gets the bubble gum off your chin? Bubble gum. You have to take the bubble gum out of your mouth and press it against the gum on your chin and it'll pick it up. Only an alcoholic can treat another alcoholic. Only other alcoholics can get you sober.” -- Augusten Burroughs |
June 24
Prayer for Patience Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people,and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein. Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought For many of us, our spiritual awakening began when we first heard our Higher Power might be our group. We learned that God may exist in the connections between people in our group just as well as within each individual. When we ask another member to listen to us, we contribute to the strength of this spirit. When we give someone a ride to a meeting or spread the word about this program to other suffering men and women, we make a contribution and receive its benefits. Even now, if we need a renewal of confidence in God's presence in our lives, we can telephone another member and just talk. We will quickly sense the spirit. So ............ Am I grateful to feel God's presence in my life and within the people around me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Getting Through Hard Times Hard times, stressful times, are not all there is to life, but they are part of life, growth, and moving forward. What we do with hard times, or hard energy, is our choice. Hard times can motivate and mold us to bring out our best. We can use these times to move forward and upward to higher levels of living, loving, and growth. The choice is ours. We do not always require hard energy, or stress, to motivate us to grow and change. We do not have to create stress, seek it, or attract it. But if it's there, we can learn to channel it into growth and use it for achieving what's good in life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Compliance Isn’t Acceptance We are sometimes mystified when people come into the AA program, respond to its message for months or years, and then disappear, seemingly without a trace. Later, we may be shocked to learn that they’re drinking again. One possible explanation is that they were practicing compliance without really accepting the program. The danger of compliance is that it may simply be an outward show of working the program while leaving one’s real thoughts and feelings unchanged. For example, to “bring the body” to meetings in the belief that they heart will follow. This does little good if one’s heart does not follow! The only solution is to continue the difficult but rewarding search for honesty in all things. When we examine ourselves honestly, we will recognize when we are truly accepting and when we are merely complying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” -- Mithra Phukan |
June 25
Prayer for Emotional Strength Lord, I’ve reached my emotional breaking point. I am full of doubt, despair, and anxiety. I’m dissatisfied and don’t know why or where to turn. I pray to ask you for emotional strength. Please give me trust, joy, and excitement so I can be lifted from this dark place and become the person you created me to be. Please be with me and give me comfort and fill my heart with your goodness. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Having gotten over drinking, we have only just begun to enjoy the benefits of A.A. We find new friends, so that we are no longer lonely. We find new relationships with our families, so that we are happy at home. We find release from our troubles and worries through a new way of looking at things. We find an outlet for our energies in helping other people. So ............ Am I enjoying these benefits of A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Simple Tasks Simple tasks can take us back to the rhythm, the way of life we're seeking. How often we think we don't want to be bothered with laundry, bills, dishes, the lawn. We have other things to do, more important tasks to accomplish on this journey we're on. But doing ordinary tasks doesn't take us away from the rhythm we're seeking. They don't take us away from life's magic. These tasks are the rhythm. They are the magic. The simple tasks are important not just because they need to be done. The simple tasks are the microcosm of how our lives work. They keep us grounded in reality, they remind us of what's real, they show us how life works. They will lead us into the way of life we're seeking, if we approach them the right way. Do the laundry. Do the dishes. Pay your bills. Rake the leaves. Do these tasks with respect. Restore and maintain order around you, and you'll feel order in your soul. Create beauty around you, and you'll feel beauty in your soul. The magic will return. The simple tasks will lead you back to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Humility in the Fellowship We of A.A. sometimes brag of the virtues of our Fellowship. Let us remember that few of these times are actually earned virtues. We were forced into them, to begin with, by the cruel lash of alcoholism. We finally adopted them, not because we wished to but because we had to. Then, as time confirmed the seeming rightness of our basic principles, we began to conform because it was right to do so. Some of us, notably myself, conformed even then with reluctance. But at last we came to a point where we stood willing to conform gladly to the principles which experience, under the grace of God, had taught us. A.A. Comes Of Age Page 224 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Often we convince ourselves by rationalizing that all is well when it is not. Our emotional and spiritual health requires that we examine honestly our behavior and our relationships. When they are not right, we need to take action to correct them." ~ Cristina Ferrare |
June 26
Prayer To Forgive Others Lord, I want to forgive others, but there seems to be a sort of blockage that is causing me to hold fast to my anger and hurt. Please would You help me to forgive fully, freely and forever so that I may be released from this sharp pain of unforgiveness, which seems to be holding my heart in an icy, iron grip. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In A.A. we find a new strength and peace. We start to realize that there must be a Power greater than ourselves that is running the universe and that is on our side when we live a good life. So the A.A. program really never ends. We begin by over coming alcohol and go on from there to many new opportunities for happiness and usefulness. So ............ Am I really enjoying the full benefits of A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Difficulties To be alive means to experience difficulties, conflicts, challenges from many directions. What we do with adverse conditions both determines and is determined by who we are. Resistance, most of us have learned, heightens the adversity. Acceptance of the condition, trusting all the while the lesson it offers us is for our benefit, ensures that we'll "come out on top." Difficulties are opportunities for advancement, for increased self-awareness, for self-fulfillment. So often we hear and remind one another that we grow through pain. We can face any situation knowing we have the strength of the program to shore us up. Strangely, we need challenges in order to grow; without growth we wither. Happiness is the bounty for facing the momentarily unhappy conditions. Any difficulty I meet today offers me a chance for even greater happiness; it guarantees my growth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First Things First Using "First Things First," we have found it helpful to concentrate first on sobriety alone, steering clear of any risky emotional entanglements. Immature or premature liaisons are crippling to recovery. Only after we have had time to mature somewhat beyond merely not drinking are we equipped to relate maturely to other people. Living Sober Page 62 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.' ~ Bryant H. McGill |
June 27
Enjoying Life Prayer Teach us how to enjoy being. Encourage us to be present to the gifts that are ours. May we be more fully aware of what we see, taste, touch, hear, and smell. May this awareness of our senses sharpen our perception of our everyday treasures and lead us to greater joy and gratitude Grant us the courage to be our true selves. Help us to let go of being overly concerned about what others think of us or of how successful we are. May our inner freedom be strengthened and our delight in life be activated. Life is meant to be celebrated, enjoyed, delighted in, and embraced in all its mystery. Guide us to our inner child. Draw us to your playground of creation, so that we will live more fully. Amen. ~ Joyce Rupp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The alcoholic is absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge. We must admit we can do nothing about it ourselves. Willpower and self-knowledge will never help in the strange mental blank spots when we are tempted to drink. An alcoholic mentally is in a very sick condition. The last flicker of conviction that we can do the job ourselves must be snuffed out. The spiritual answer and the program of action are the only hope. Only spiritual principles will solve our problems. We are completely helpless apart from Divine help. Our defense against drinking must come from a Higher Power. So ............ Have I accepted the spiritual answer and the program of action? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Rescuing Ourselves No one likes a martyr. How do we feel around martyrs? Guilty, angry, trapped, negative, and anxious to get away. Somehow, many of us have developed the belief that depriving ourselves, not taking care of ourselves, being a victim, and suffering needlessly will get us what we want. It is our job to notice our abilities, our strengths, and take care of ourselves by developing and acting on them. It is our job to notice our pain and weariness and appropriately take care of ourselves. It is our job to notice our deprivation, too, and begin to take steps to give ourselves abundance. It begins inside of us, by changing what we believe we deserve, by giving up our deprivation and treating ourselves the way we deserve to be treated. Life is hard, but we don't have to make it more difficult by neglecting ourselves. There is no glory in suffering, only suffering. Our pain will not stop when a rescuer comes, but when we take responsibility for ourselves and stop our own pain. I will be my own rescuer. I will stop waiting for someone else to work through my issues and solve my problems for me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Damage Repairs 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, p. 76 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "To believe in sensible ideas is easy, but to implement them involves sacrifice." ~ Dorothy H. |
June 28
Happiness Prayer Dear Lord, I pray that you bless me with true happiness and peace in life. Lead me away from hate and anger toward love. From a restless mind and anxiety, give me peace. Lead me from fear of death to eternal life. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought I have gotten over my procrastination. I was always putting things off till tomorrow and as a result that never got done. "There is always another day" was my motto instead of "Do it now." Under the influence of alcohol, I had grandiose plans. When I was sober I was too busy getting over my drunk to start anything. "Some day I'll do that" -- but I never did it. In A.A. I have learned it's better to make a mistake once in a while than to never do anything at all. We learn by trial and error. But we must act now and not put it off until tomorrow. So ............ Have I learned to do it now? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Growth We should be thankful we can never reach complete serenity. If we could, we would never have the need to improve ourselves. We would stop growing, because there would be no reason to learn any more than we already know, and we would become bored. Even the things, which seem so serene in nature usually contain a struggle within. A lake, with a swan gliding slowly across it, seems a perfect picture of serenity. But, unseen below the surface, fish, turtles, and frogs struggle each day for survival. The important thing is to accept the struggles as a part of the beauty of life, not as blemishes on it. What struggles shall help me grow better today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prayer As the alcoholic goes along with his process of prayer, he begins to add up the results. If he persists, he will almost surely find more serenity, more tolerance, less fear, and less anger. He will acquire a quiet courage, the kind that doesn't strain him. He can look at so-called failure and success for what they really are. Problems and calamity will begin to mean instruction, rather than destruction. He will feel freer and saner. . . Wonderful and unaccountable things will start to happen. Twisted relations with family and on the outside will unaccountably improve. Bill W., June 1958 The Language of the Heart Page 241 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Life is always moving, changing, shifting into its next shape. The movement is natural. It is how we evolve. Let the shift happen. Take responsibility for yourself each step of the way." ~ Earnie Larsen |
June 29
Prayer for Happiness in Life Let me awaken each morning with hope for everything that the world has to offer. Help me so that I can discover peace, prosperity, and happiness in life. Guide me to find joy in each day and appreciate the beauty of your creation. Teach me how to touch each soul I meet and be thankful for every person in my life. Teach me how to see a happy life in all of its infinite varieties. Help me to find happiness in every moment as I go through each day. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We're in A.A. for two main reasons: to keep sober ourselves and to help others to find sobriety. It's a well-known fact that helping others is a big part of keeping yourself sober. It's also been proven that it's very hard to keep sober all by yourself. A lot of people have tried it and failed. They come to a few A.A. meetings and then stay sober alone for a few months, but usually they eventually get drunk. So ............ Do I know that I can't stay sober successfully alone? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Frustrations of Life There are many gifts around us which we overlook when we're busy dealing with our anxieties and obligations. We talk about burning out from our high-intensity lifestyles. We act as though nothing would get done if we didn't do it ourselves. We get so engrossed in fighting with the frustrations of life that we fail to see the good things coming our way that took no effort on our part. As we look around us at this very moment, what good things do we find? Has a friend given a warm hello? Is the sun shining? The rain falling? Has the traffic flowed smoothly? We have no claim on these generous events, and we can't say God smiles on us when we have them or He frowns when we don't. We can say there are always generous forces coming our way, which comfort and heal us. We only need to take time to enjoy them. I will take some quiet moments to notice the good things coming my way. I will be grateful for them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anonymity "And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all." Tradition Twelve - the Long Form Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, Pages 567-568 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "One of the greatest sources of insecurity and frustration is our tendency to try and change things that we don't have any control of." ~ Ryan Help |
June 30
Prayer for Accepting God's Will Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people, and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein. Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen ~Matthew R. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Fellowship is a big part of staying sober. We never go to an A.A. meeting without taking something out of it. Sometimes we don't feel like going to a meeting and we think of excuses for not going. But we usually end up going anyway. And we always get some lift out of every meeting. Meetings are part of keeping sober. And we get more out of a meeting if we try to contribute something to it. So ............ Am I contributing my share at meetings? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Resentments When we hang on to resentments, we poison ourselves. As alcoholics, we cannot afford resentment, since it exacerbates our disease. If we do not get rid of our anger and bitterness, we will suffer more than anyone. Seeking revenge will harm ourselves in the long run. Many of us have carried around old grudges, which caused us to reach for a drink when we thought about them. We don't need the alcohol and we don't need the grudges, either. When we give away the resentments, we are that much lighter in body and in spirit. Now that we have found A.A., we have a way to get rid of the animosity and indignation, which has been poisoning our system. Taking inventory and making amends is an essential part of burying resentments. We need to first be consciously aware of them before we can give them away. These steps usually need to be taken again and again as negative material threatens our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Results of Prayer As the doubter tries the process of prayer, he should begin to add up the results. If he persists, he will most surely find more serenity, more tolerance, less fear, and less anger. He will acquire a quiet courage, the kind that isn't tension-ridden. He can look at "failure" and "success" for what these really are. Problems and calamity will begin to mean his instruction, instead of his destruction. He will feel freer and saner. The idea that he may have been hypnotizing himself by autosuggestion will become laughable. His sense of purpose and of direction will increase. His anxieties will commence to fade. His physical health will be likely to improve. Wonderful and unaccountable things will start to happen. Twisted relations in his family and on the outside will improve surprisingly. As Bill Sees It Page 321 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine, but to mold my will into His.” ~ Timothy Keller |
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