Daily Reflection

JULY 31
A PRAYER FOR ALL SEASONS
God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot
change, Courage to change the things we can. And wisdom
to know the difference.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 125
The power of this prayer is overwhelming in that its simple
beauty parallels the A.A. Fellowship. There are times when
I get stuck while reciting it, but if I examine the section
which is troubling me, I find the answer to my problem.
The first time this happened I was scared, but now I use it
as a valuable tool. By accepting life as it is, I gain serenity.
By taking action, I gain courage and I thank God for the
ability to distinguish between those situations I can work
on, and those I must turn over. All that I have now is a gift
from God: my life, my usefulness, my contentment, and
this program. The serenity enables me to continue walking
forward. Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Daily Reflection

JULY 30
GIVING BACK
. . . he has struck something better than gold. . . . He may
not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode
which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of
his life and insists on giving away the entire product.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 129
My part of the Seventh Tradition means so much more than
just giving money to pay for the coffee. It means being
accepted for myself by belonging to a group. For the first
time I can be responsible, because I have a choice. I can
learn the principles of working out problems in my daily
life by getting involved in the "business" of A.A. By being
self-supporting, I can give back to A.A. what A.A. gave to
me! Giving back to A.A. not only ensures my own
sobriety, but allows me to buy insurance that A.A. will be
here for my grandchildren.

Daily Reflection

JULY 29
ANONYMOUS GIFTS OF KINDNESS
As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout
in one way or another.
"THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ILLUSTRATED," p. 14
The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal
challenge, reminding me to share and give of myself.
Before sobriety the only thing I ever supported was my
habit of drinking. Now my efforts are a smile, a kind word,
and kindness.
I saw that I had to start carrying my own weight and to
allow my new friends to walk with me because, through the
practice of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, I've
never had it so good.

Daily Reflection

JULY 28
THOSE WHO STILL SUFFER
Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has
enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a
channel of saving grace for everybody.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 232
A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety.
Large or small, firmly established or brand-new, speaker,
discussion or study, each group has but one reason for
being: to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic.
The group exists so that the alcoholic can find a new way
of life, a life abundant in happiness, joy, and freedom. To
recover, most alcoholics need the support of a group of
other alcoholics who share their experience, strength and
hope. Thus my sobriety, and our program's survival,
depend on my determination to put first things first.

Daily Reflection

JULY 27
GIVING FREELY
We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to
insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will
do this because we have learned to love God and one
another.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 234
To be self-supporting through my own contributions was
never a strong characteristic during my days as a practicing
alcoholic. The giving of time or money always demanded a
price tag.
As a newcomer I was told "we have to give it away in
order to keep it." As I began to adopt the principles of
Alcoholics Anonymous in my life, I soon found it was a
privilege to give to the Fellowship as an expression of the
gratitude I felt in my heart. My love of God and of others
became the motivating factor in my life, with no thought of
return. I realize now that giving freely is God's way of
expressing Himself through me.

Daily Reflection

JULY 26
THE "WORTH" OF SOBRIETY
Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting,
declining outside contributions.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 160
When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I
see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in
rehabilitation, I have to straighten out my life. When I go
to a meeting, I take a coffee with sugar and milk,
sometimes more than one. But at the collection time, I am
either too busy to take money out of my purse, or I do not
have enough, but I am there because I need this meeting. I
heard someone suggest dropping the price of a beer into the
basket, and I thought, that's too much! I almost never give
one dollar. Like many others, I rely on the more generous
members to finance the Fellowship. I forget that it takes
money to rent the meeting room, buy my milk, sugar and
cups. I will pay, without hesitation, ninety cents for a cup
of coffee at a restaurant after the meeting; I always have
money for that. So, how much is my sobriety and my inner
peace worth?

Daily Reflection

JULY 25
THOSE WHO STILL SUFFER
For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is
unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151
I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my
nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of whiteknuckled
sobriety. Today, I do not forget the unknown
person who suffers quietly, withdrawn and hiding in the
desperate relief of drinking. I ask my Higher Power to give
me His guidance and the courage to be willing to be His
instrument to carry within me compassion and unselfish
actions. Let the group continue to give me the strength to
do with others what I cannot do alone.

Daily Reflection

JULY 24
HELPING OTHERS
Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our
constant thought of others and how we may help meet their
needs.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had
been doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I
was ungrateful and resentful they didn't do more. Why
should I help others, when they were supposed to help me?
If others had troubles, didn't they deserve them? I was
filled with self-pity, anger and resentment. Then I learned
that by helping others, with no thought of return, I could
overcome this obsession with selfishness, and if I
understood humility, I would know peace and serenity. No
longer do I need to drink.

Daily Reflection

JULY 23
I ASK GOD TO DECIDE
"I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of
character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you
and my fellows "
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76
Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to
turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I
understand Him, I don't decide which defects get removed,
or the order in which defects get removed, or the time
frame in which they get removed. I ask God to decide
which defects stand in the way of my usefulness to Him
and to others, and then I humbly ask Him to remove them.

Daily Reflection

JULY 22
"THE GOOD AND THE BAD"
"My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of
me, good and bad."
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76
The joy of life is in the giving. Being freed of my
shortcomings, that I may more freely be of service, allows
humility to grow in me. My shortcomings can be humbly
placed in God's loving care and be removed. The essence
of Step Seven is humility, and what better way to seek
humility than by giving all of myself—good and bad—to
God, so that He may remove the bad and return to me the
good.

Daily Reflection

JULY 21
A PRICELESS GIFT
By this time in all probability we have gained some
measure of release from our more devastating handicaps.
We enjoy moments in which there is something like real
peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only
excitement, depression, or anxiety—in other words, to all of
us—this newfound peace is a priceless gift.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 74
I am learning to let go and let God, to have a mind that is
open and a heart that is willing to receive God's grace in all
my affairs; in this way I can experience the peace and
freedom that come as a result of surrender. It has been
proven that an act of surrender, originating in desperation
and defeat, can grow into an ongoing act of faith, and that
faith means freedom and victory.

Daily Reflection

JULY 20
SHORTCOMINGS REMOVED
But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father
doeth the works" began to carry bright promise and
meaning.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 75
When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember
that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn't say, "Humbly
asked Him to (fill in the blank) remove our shortcomings."
For years, I filled in the imaginary blank with "Help me!"
"Give me the courage to," and "Give me the strength," etc.
The Step says simply that God will remove my
shortcomings. The only footwork I must do is "humbly
ask," which for me means asking with the knowledge that
of myself I am nothing, the Father within "doeth the
works."

Will be posting by July 20th

I finally repaired my computer so the daily reflections will return by July 20th, I'm getting ready to pack up my computer & everything else for a move to a new apartment monday. I started back to work part-time friday. I'm so sorry for the delay. 

Daily Reflection

JULY 6
IDENTIFYING FEAR . . .
The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered
fear. . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 76
When I feel uncomfortable, irritated, or depressed, I look
for fear. This "evil and corroding thread" is the root of my
distress: Fear of failure; fear of others' opinions; fear of
harm, and many other fears. I have found a Higher Power
who does not want me to live in fear and, as a result, the
experience of A.A. in my life is freedom and joy. I am no
longer willing to live with the multitude of character defects
that characterized my life while I was drinking. Step
Seven is my vehicle to freedom from these defects. I pray
for help in identifying the fear underneath the defect, and
then I ask God to relieve me of that fear. This method
works for me without fail and is one of the great miracles
of my life in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Daily Reflection

JULY 5
A NEW DIRECTION
Our human resources, as marshaled by the will, were not
sufficient; they failed utterly. . . . Every day is a day when
we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 45, 85
I hear talk of the "weak-willed" alcoholic, but I am one of
the strongest-willed people on earth! I now know that my
incredible strength of will is not enough to save my life.
My problem is not one of "weakness," but rather of
direction. When I, without falsely diminishing myself,
accept my honest limitations and turn to God's guidance,
my worst faults become my greatest assets. My strong will,
rightly directed, keeps me working until the promises of the
program become my daily reality.

Daily Reflection

JULY 4
A NATURAL FAITH
. . . deep down in every man, woman and child, is the
fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured by calamity,
by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or
other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than
ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that power in
human lives, are facts as old as man himself.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 55
I have seen the workings of the unseen God in A.A. rooms
around the country. Miracles of recovery are everywhere in
evidence. I now believe that God is in these rooms and in
my heart. Today faith is as natural to me, a former
agnostic, as breathing, eating and sleeping. The Twelve
Steps have helped to change my life in many ways, but
none is more effective than the acquisition of a Higher
Power.

Daily Reflection

JULY 3
EXPERIENCE: THE BEST TEACHER
Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious
contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be
inspired at all times.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87
Some say that experience is the best teacher, but I believe
that experience is the only teacher. I have been able to learn
of God's love for me only by the experience of my
dependence on that love. At first I could not be sure of His
direction in my life, but now I see that if I am to be bold
enough to ask for His guidance, I must act as if He has
provided it. I frequently ask God to help me remember that
He has a path for me.

Daily Reflection

JULY 2
THE HEART OF TRUE SOBRIETY
We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality
of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness
are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 570
Am I honest enough to accept myself as I am and let this
be the "me" that I let others see? Do I have the willingness
to go to any length, to do whatever is necessary to stay
sober? Do I have the open-mindedness to hear what I have
to hear, to think what I have to think, and to feel what I
have to feel?
If my answer to these questions is "Yes," I know enough
about the spirituality of the program to stay sober. As I
continue to work the Twelve Steps, I move on to the heart
of true sobriety: serenity with myself, with others, and with
God as I understand Him.

Daily Reflection

JULY 1
THE BEST FOR TODAY
The principles we have set down are guides to progress
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 60
Just as a sculptor will use different tools to achieve desired
effects in creating a work of art, in Alcoholics Anonymous
the Twelve Steps are used to bring about results in my own
life. I do not overwhelm myself with life's problems, and
how much more work needs to be done. I let myself be
comforted in knowing that my life is now in the hands of
my Higher Power, a master craftsman who is shaping each
part of my life into a unique work of art. By working my
program I can be satisfied, knowing that "in doing the best
that we can for today, we are doing all that God asks of us."