Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 23
RECOVERY, UNITY, SERVICE
Our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic
service that AA's Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim
and the main reason for our existence.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 160
I thank God for those who came before me, those who told
me not to forget the Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity and
Service. In my home group, the Three Legacies were
described on a sign which said: "You take a three-legged
stool, try to balance it on only one leg, or two. Our Three
Legacies must be kept intact. In Recovery, we get sober
together; in Unity, we work together for the good of our
Steps and Traditions; and through Service—we give away
freely what has been given to us."
One of the chief gifts of my life has been to know that I
will have no message to give, unless I recover in unity with
A.A. principles.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 22
PRINCIPLES, NOT PERSONALITIES
The way our "worthy" alcoholics have sometimes tried to
judge the "less worthy" is, as we look back on it, rather
comical. Imagine, if you can, one alcoholic judging
another!
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 37
Who am I to judge anyone? When I first entered the
Fellowship I found that I liked everyone. After all, A.A.
was going to help me to a better way of life without
alcohol. The reality was that I couldn't possibly like
everyone, nor they me. As I've grown in the Fellowship,
I've learned to love everyone just from listening to what
they had to say. That person over there, or the one right
here, may be the one God has chosen to give me the
message I need for today. I must always remember to place
principles above personalities.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 21
LISTEN, SHARE AND PRAY
When working with a man and his family, you should take
care not to participate in their quarrels. You may spoil
your chance of being helpful if you do.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 100
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 Reflection

DECEMBER 20
THE REWARDS OF GIVING
This is indeed the kind of giving that actually demands
nothing. He does not expect his brother sufferer to pay him,
or even to love him. And then he discovers that by the
divine paradox of this kind of giving he has found his own
reward, whether his brother has yet received anything or
not.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 109
Through experience with Twelfth Step work, I came to
understand the rewards of giving that demands nothing in
return. At first I expected recovery in others, but I soon
learned that this did not happen. Once I acquired the
humility to accept the fact that every Twelfth Step call was
not going to result in a success, then I was open to receive
the rewards of selfless giving.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 19
UNDERSTANDING THE MALADY
When dealing with an alcoholic, there may be a natural
annoyance that a man could be so weak, stupid and
irresponsible. Even when you understand the malady
better, you may feel this feeling rising.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 139
Having suffered from alcoholism, I should understand the
illness, but sometimes I feel annoyance, even contempt,
toward a person who cannot make it in A.A. When I feel
that way, I am satisfying my false sense of superiority and I
must remember, but for the grace of God, there go I.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 18
HONESTY WITH NEWCOMERS
Tell him exactly what happened to you. Stress the spiritual
feature freely.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 93
The marvel of A.A. is that I tell only what happened to me.
I don't waste time offering advice to potential newcomers,
for if advice worked, nobody would get to A.A. All I have
to do is show what has brought me sobriety and what has
changed my life. If I fail to stress the spiritual feature of
A.A.'s program, I am being dishonest. The newcomer
should not be given a false impression of sobriety. I am
sober only through the grace of my Higher Power, and that
makes it possible for me to share with others.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 17
A PRICELESS REWARD
. . . work with other alcoholics. . . . It work when other
activities fail.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 8
"Life will take on new meaning," as the Big Book says
(p.89). This promise has helped me to avow self-seeking
and self-pity. To watch others grow in this wonderful
program, to see them improve the quality of their lives, is a
priceless reward for my effort to help others. Selfexamination
is yet another reward for an ongoing recovery,
as are serenity, peace and contentment. The energy derived
from seeing others on a successful path, of sharing with
them the joys of the journey, gives to my life a new
meaning.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 16
PARTNERS IN RECOVERY
. . nothing will so much insure immunity from finking as
intensive work with other alcoholics. . . Both you and the
new man must walk day by ay in the path of spiritual
progress. . . . Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and
you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no
matter what your resent circumstances!
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 89, 100
Doing the right things for the right reasons—this is my
way of controlling my selfishness and self-centeredness. I
realize that my dependency on a higher Power clears the
way for peace of mind, happiness and sobriety. I pray each
day that I will avoid my previous actions, so that I will be
helpful o others.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 15
DOING ANYTHING TO HELP
Offer him [the alcoholic] friendship and fellowship. Tell
him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to
help.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 95
I remember how attracted I was to the two men from A.A.
who Twelfth-Stepped me. They said I could have what
they had, with no conditions attached, that all I had to do
was make my own decision to join them on the pathway to
recovery. When I start convincing a newcomer to do things
my way, I forget how helpful those two men were to me in
their open-minded generosity.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 14
REACHING OUT
Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or
spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for
his inspection. Show him how they worked with you.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 95
When I come into contact with a newcomer, do I have a
tendency to look at him from my perceived ingle of
success in A.A.? Do I compare him with the large number
of acquaintances I have made in the Fellowship? Do I
point out to him in a magisterial way the voice of A.A.?
What is my real attitude toward him? I must examine
myself whenever I meet a newcomer to make sure that I
am carrying the message with simplicity, humility and
generosity. The one who still suffers from the terrible disease
of alcoholism must find in me a friend who will allow
him to get to know the A.A. way, because I had such a
friend when I arrived in A.A. Today it is my turn to hold
out my hand, with love, to my sister or brother alcoholic,
and to show her or him the way to happiness

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 13
THINKING OF 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
Thinking of others has never come easily to me. Even when
I try to work the A.A. program, I'm prone to thinking,
"How do I feel today. Am I happy, joyous and free?"
The program tells me that my thoughts must reach out to
those around me: "Would that newcomer welcome
someone to talk to?" "That person looks a little unhappy
today, maybe I could cheer him up." It is only when I
forget my problems, and reach out to contribute something
to others that I can begin to attain the serenity and Godconsciousness
I seek.

Daily Reflection

DECEMBER 12
A COMMON SOLUTION
The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have
discovered a common solution. We have a way out on
which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can
join in brotherly and harmonious ac-ion. This is the great
news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 17
The most far-reaching Twelfth Step work was the
publication of our Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Few
can equal that book for carrying the message. My idea is to
get out of myself and simply do what I can. Even if I
haven't been asked to sponsor and my phone rarely rings, I
am still able to do Twelfth Step work. I get involved in
"brotherly and harmonious action." At meetings I show up
early to greet people and to help set up, and to share my
experience, strength and hope. I also do what I can with
service work. My Higher Power gives me exactly what He
wants me to do at any given point in my recovery and, if I
let Him, my willingness will bring Twelfth Step work
automatically.