Dec. 26, 2013 - Step by Step

Step by Step

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013 

"When I try to reconstruct what my life was life 'before,' I see a coin with two faces.
"One, the side I turned to myself and the world, was respectable ...

"The other side ...was sinister, baffling. I was inwardly unhappy most of the time. There would be times when the life of respectability and achievement seemed insufferably dull - I had to break out. This I would do by going completely 'bohemian' for a night, getting drunk and rolling home with the dawn. Next day remorse would be on me like a tiger. I'd claw my way back to 'respectability' and stay there - until the inevitable next time." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Stopped in Time," Ch 16 ("Me an Alcoholic?"), p 432. 

Today, give me faith and security in my recovery to know that there does not have to be "the inevitable next time." The AA Program encourages us to live in the solution of sobriety and not in the problem of alcoholism, and I am in the latter if my focus is on fighting off "the inevitable next time." The threat of a "next time" is disempowered if I practice with diligence and integrity the Program's Steps and Principles and accept intuitively that drinking now, for me, is a choice and that I will be held responsible to the consequences of that choice. Today, "the inevitable next time" may be less inevitable if I stick to the Program's principles and ethics and the understanding that I now have a choice and the choice I make will have consequences. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2013

Dec. 26, 2013 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013

AA Thought for the Day
I am glad to be a part of AA, of that great fellowship that is spreading over the United States and all over the world. I am only one of the many AAs, but I am one. I am grateful to be living at this time, when I can help AA to grow, when it needs me to put my shoulder to the wheel and help keep the movement going. I am glad to be able to be useful, to have a reason for living, a purpose in life. I want to lose my life in this great cause and so find it again.

Am I grateful to be an AA?

Meditation for the Day
These meditations can teach us how to relax. We can be of service to other people in a small way, at least. And we can be happy while doing it. We should not worry too much about people we cannot help. We can make it a habit to leave the outcome of the things we do to the Higher Power. We can go along through life doing the best we can, but without a feeling of urgency or strain. We can enjoy all the good things and the beauty of life, but at the same time depend deeply on God.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may give my life to the worthwhile cause. I pray that I may enjoy the satisfaction that comes from good work well done.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 26, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013

Reflection for the Day
None of us can claim to know God in all His fullness. None of us can really claim to understand our Higher Power to any extent. But this I do know: there is a Power beyond my human will which can do wonderful, loving things for me that I can't do for myself. I see this glorious power at work in my own being, and I see the miraculous results of this same power in the lives of thousands upon thousands of other recovering people who are my friends in The Program.

Do I need the grace of God and the loving understanding of my friends in The Program any less now than when I began my recovery?

Today I Pray
May I never forget that my spiritual needs are as great today as they were when I came into The Program. It is so easy to look at others, newer to the recovery process, and regard them as the needy ones. As I think of myself as increasingly independent, may I never overlook my dependence on my Higher Power.

Today I Will Remember
I will never outgrow my need for God.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 26, 2013 - The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013

As we alcoholics are selfish by nature, it is but right and proper that we should be more severe in our judgments of ourselves than of others. As we are our own best friend or our worst enemy, depending upon our treatment of ourselves, and as we are the one person in the world from whom we cannot escape, it is therefore essential that we do not allow ourselves to get away with anything in our treatment of ourselves. When we forgive ourselves, we are rationalizing. But to forgive others is divine.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 26, 2013 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013

Today's thought from Hazelden is:
Fear No More
I will not fear those who have hurt me,
For You have given me power.
I shall sleep without nightmares;
You have given me peace.
I shall awaken with a clear and rested mind;
You have given me clarity.
I shall start my day happy, joyous, and free;
You have given me my recovery;
You have given me a new life.
For Your grace,
I will demonstrate my gratitude
In useful and positive action
Throughout this day.

From the book:

The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2 by Bill P. and Lisa D.

The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2 by Bill P. and Lisa D. © 2007 by Hazelden Foundation

The ABC's of daily living

Dec. 25, 2013 - Step by Step

Step by Step

Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013 

"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact, we could will these things with all our might, but the needed power wasn't there. Our human resources, as marshaled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly.

"Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power  greater than ourselves." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 4 ("We Agnostics"), pp 44-5. 

Today, let me not link my alcoholism to some moral failure on my part or a philosophy that did not apply to me and, instead, take it for what it is: a physical, emotional, and spiritual disease of my character. While I should not and cannot be "blamed" for becoming alcoholic, I can and should be responsible for arresting its progression. To this end, I must completely accept the First Step of absolute powerlessness over alcohol and, then, at least coming to believe in something - a Power - greater and stronger than myself. If I still grapple with this concept, however, perhaps my power can be my own experience of predictable behavior and outcomes, most of which carried increasingly heavier consequences. Today, I am an alcoholic not because of a moral or philosophical failure on my part, but because of a disease. It cannot be cured, but it can be arrested. The Program's first two Steps are my beginning. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2013

Dec. 25, 2013 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

AA Thought for the Day
Many alcoholics will be saying today: "This is a good Christmas for me." They will be looking back over past Christmases which were not like this one. They will be thanking God for their sobriety and their new found life. They will be thinking about how their lives were changed when they came into AA. They will be thinking that perhaps God let them live through all the hazards of their drinking careers, when they were perhaps often close to death, in order that they might be used by Him in the great work of AA.

Is this a happy Christmas for me?

Meditation for the Day
The kingdom of heaven is also for the lowly, the sinners, the repentant. "And they presented unto him gifts - gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Bring your gifts of gold - your money and material possessions. Bring your frankincense - the consecration of your life to a worthy cause. Bring your myrrh - your sympathy and understanding and help. Lay them all at the feet of God and let Him have full use of them.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be truly thankful on this Christmas Day. I pray that I may bring my gifts and lay them on the altar.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 25, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

Reflection for the Day
Today is a special day in more ways than one. It's a day that God has made, and I'm alive in God's world. I know that all things in my life this day are an expression of God's love - the fact that I'm alive, that I'm recovering and that I'm able to feel the way I feel at this very instant. For me, this will be a day of gratitude.

Am I deeply thankful for being a part of this special day, and for all my blessings?

Today I Pray
On this day of remembering God's gift, may I understand that giving and receiving are the same. Each is part of each. If I give, I receive the happiness of giving. If I receive, I give someone else that same happiness of giving. I pray that I may give my self - my love and my strengths - generously. May I also receive graciously the love and strengths of others' selves. May God be our example.

Today I Will Remember
The magnitude of God's giving.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 25, 2013 - The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

At some time in your AA experience, you will be called upon to make a talk before the Group. When that time comes, remember that you are talking for the new man out in front. You definitely are not talking just to demonstrate your wisdom and your oratorical ability. Above all, you don't exaggerate your story nor make statements that are manifestly untrue. It has been done and the effectiveness of the talk destroyed. Keep in mind that the man out in front is an alcoholic and he can spot a phony afar off.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 25, 2013 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

To him, it was not the gift that mattered, but the giver. -- Walter de La Mare
In our material world today, we often get off track. We forget that what we really need in our lives is love and close friendships. It's too easy to take our relationships for granted. It's also too easy to take our sobriety for granted - the big gift of another chance at life.

For Christians, today marks the birth of Christ, the child who came to bring love and forgiveness to all. Whether we are Christian or not, as recovering people, we know that love and forgiveness do open the gates to new life. When we live in the light of our Higher Power - whether we call that power Jesus, Yahweh, Muhammad, Buddha, or Creator - we find ourselves living that new life.

Let each of us, in the name of our own Higher Power; spend this day in celebration of the new life we have been given.
Prayer for the Day
Higher Power, thanks for delivering new light into my life and giving me another chance. Teach me to live in the light of love and forgiveness. What a gift.
Today's Action
What gifts of love and forgiveness can I deliver to others today? What can I give from my heart that will bring someone light and joy? A smile and a hug? A phone call? An afternoon of conversation and play? I will remember to contact my sponsor today.

From the book:

God Grant Me... by Anonymous

God Grant Me. . . © 2005 by Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 24, 2013 - Step by Step

Step by Step

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013 

Today, on this Christmas Eve, I have no need, desire or excuse to take part of the holiday's liquid cheer, such as it is, because I am here despite or in spite of it all, and my choice today is to retain or begin my sobriety. If I am blessed still to have family and friends to be with this holiday season, I will not sabotage it again by drinking even one gulp; if I am alone for whatever reason, it is because I have allowed it and shut out the company of meeting houses, others in recovery or those who need help getting there. Today is not a day for selfishness, and I will not empower it with self-pity, anger, mourning and regret if they are what my drinking spawned. Instead, I will be grateful that I simply am and have the potential to sober up, growing in it and, in some way perhaps, regaining what I might have lost and keeping what I haven't. Today, I haven't got time for the bittersweet of the season; only the promise of the sweet. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2013

Dec. 24, 2013 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013

AA Thought for the Day
We have been given a new life just because we happened to become alcoholics. We certainly don't deserve the new life that has been given us. There is little in our past to warrant the life we have now. Many people live good lives from their youth on, not getting into serious trouble, being well adjusted to life, and yet they have not found all that we drunks have found. We had the good fortune to find Alcoholics Anonymous and with it a new life. We are among the lucky few in the world who have learned a new way to live.

Am I deeply grateful for the new life that I have learned in AA?

Meditation for the Day
A deep gratitude to the Higher Power for all the blessings which we have and which we don't deserve has come to us. We thank God and mean it. Then comes service to other people, out of gratitude for what we have received. This entails some sacrifice of ourselves and our own affairs. But we are glad to do it. Gratitude, service and then sacrifice are the steps that lead to good AA work. They open the door to a new life for us.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may gladly serve others out of deep gratitude for what I have received. I pray that I may keep a deep sense of obligation.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 24, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013

Reflection for the Day
We came to The Program as supplicants, literally at the ends of our ropes. Sooner or later, by practicing the principles of the Twelve Steps, we discover within ourselves a very precious thing. We uncover something with which we can be comfortable in all places and situations. We gain strength and grow with the help of God as we understand Him, with the fellowship of The Program and by applying the Twelve Steps to our lives.

Can anyone take my new life from me?

Today I Pray
May my prayers of desperate supplication, which I brought to my Higher Power as a newcomer to The Program, change to a peaceful surrender to the will of God. Now that I have seen what can be done through the endless might of a Higher Power, may my gift to others be that strong conviction. I pray that those I love will have the faith to find their own spiritual experiences and the blessings of peace.

Today I Will Remember
Peace - inner and outer - is God's greatest blessing.

Hazelden Foundation

Dec. 24, 2013 - The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013

Did you ever think upon forgiveness as a Christmas gift? In addition to its sacred application, the giving of gifts at Christmas is to bring happiness to someone and nothing can bring more happiness than forgiveness. It gives joy to both the giver and the receiver and must also bring a smile to the face of Him who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." It depletes your purse not one penny but adds materially to spiritual wealth.

Hazelden Foundation