Daily
Reflections reading October 4th
A Necessary Pruning
We
know that the pains of drinking had to come before sobriety, and emotional
turmoil before serenity. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 94
I love spending time in my garden feeding and pruning my beautiful flowers. One day, as I was busily snipping away, a neighbor stopped by. She commented, “Oh! Your plants are so beautiful, it seems such a shame to cut them back.” I replied, “I know how you feel, but the excess must be removed so they can grow stronger and healthier.” Later I thought that perhaps my plants feel pain, but God and I know it’s part of the plan and I’ve seen the results. I was quickly reminded of my precious A.A. program and how we all grow through pain. I ask God to prune me when it’s time, so I can grow.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My thoughts on October 4th
Reading
Self exam, looking at criticism with an
open mind, will always keep me emotionally balanced, at times tragic things
happen to everyone in life, not just the alcoholic, we always must be prepared
for life's pain and suffering, other wise we would not know what joy and
happiness really is
The steps keep me focused on defects with
in myself, self- searching became a habit, when I started to live by what the
steps have taught me, to look at my character defects and short comings, my
inventory, this did enable me to settle with my past, I was able to leave it
behind me
By working all the steps into my life, I
stay balanced so I can correct my defects of the present, this does not mean
things from my pass will not come up, I will again have to make more amends,
this I can do in step ten, promptly admit the wrong when it comes to mind
This did not happen overnight it takes
practice to continue looking at myself, again for me this is how I use my
sponsor, he could see what I couldn’t because of my tunnel vision, at times I
cannot find peace until I accept what's going on and try to correct it as soon
as it becomes a bother to me
I must correct anything that becomes a
bother in my recovery, because if I don't I would be heading straight to
another bottle ruin my whole life over again, not being able to accept life on
life's terms, or as I like to say Life on Gods terms, not mine is how I have to
live today
Resentment is the first step to anger and
rage, envy is looking at what others have, not at what God in his grace gave
me, self pity is a useless emotion, that can only lead me back to the bottle,
hurt pride is nothing more than given others the right to rent free space in my
head
This could lead to self, poor me, poor me,
pour me a drink, I had been given the Gift Of Desperation and with the help of God
and my sponsor, working all twelve steps into my daily living I have received
the gift of sobriety, just by simply following the suggestions of fellowship
This has kept me balance in the here and
now, a willingness to admit when I was at fault and the willingness to forgive
when the fault is elsewhere, is what self-restraint is all about I do not go to
every argument I am invited to
Progress not for perfection is my goal
some things are best left alone after all what others think of me is none of my
business, when speaking or acting hastily or rashly the ability to be
fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot nothing pays off like restraint
of tongue and pen
This quote first appeared in a story in
the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous on page 380. The
quote began the story
"An Artist's
Concept":
"There is a principle which is a bar
against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not
fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-
That principle is contempt prior to
investigation."
HERBERT SPENCER
Please feel free to mail
suggestions or comments
