~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ SERVING MY BROTHER
The member talks to the newcomer not in a spirit of power but in a spirit of humility and weakness. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE p. 279
As the days pass in A.A., I ask God to guide my thoughts and the words that I speak. In this labor of continuous participation in the Fellowship, I have numerous opportunities to speak. So I frequently ask God to help me watch over my thoughts and my words, that they may be the true and proper reflections of our program; to focus my aspirations once again to seek His guidance; to help me be truly kind and loving, helpful and healing, yet always filled with humility, and free from any trace of arrogance.
Today I may very well have to deal with disagreeable attitudes or utterances -- the typical stock-in-trade attitude of the still-suffering alcoholic. If this should happen, I will take a moment to center myself in God, so that I will be able to respond from a perspective of composure, strength and sensibility.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 27th
A.A. Thought for the Day
Alcoholics carry an awful load around with them. What a load lying puts on your shoulders! Drinking makes liars out of all of us alcoholics. In order to get the liquor we want, we have to lie all the time. We have to lie about where we've been and what we've been doing. When you are lying you are only half alive, because of the fear of being found out. When you come into A.A., and get honest with yourself and with other people, that terrible load of lying falls off your shoulders. Have I gotten rid of that load of lying?
Meditation for the Day
I believe that in the spiritual world, as in the material world, there is no empty space. As fears and worries and resentments depart out of my life, the things of the spirit come in to take their places. Calm comes after a storm. As soon as I am rid of fears and hates and selfishness, God's love and peace and calm can come in.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may rid myself of all fears and resentments, so that peace and serenity may take their place. I pray that I may sweep my life clean of evil, so that good may come in.
Thanks for this John. Just want to say....Keeping a secret/secrets for me was a form of lying... I was keeping secret(s) to protect others so they would not be hurt, but I was being Hurt tremendously by keeping them from them. In fact, when I told all, when I broke down in emotion, I felt a huge burden fall from my shoulders. I was carrying the burden(s)/Secrets for 3 other people as well as my own. The irony of the whole D$$ thing is, they now have to deal with their stuff/responsibilites/paths, now I only have to "worry" about my stuff/resp./path...
Also, the resentment part--still working daily on what "eats" me. Keep It Simple has a wonderful page or two on resentment. Resentment is really anger that turns to hatred. Hatred is within us, and we can not let the good things in.
Hatred is within us, and we can not let the good things in. 