AA Thought for the Day - Please Share

[Ann]

AA Thought for the Day
April 14, 2007

Resentment

And then there is another very powerful little thing you can do
if you have made just a little progress in the life of the spirit,
and that is to say to yourself,
about whomever you feel the resentment,
"God bless you." And really mean it.
If you don't feel quite that spiritual,
you can at least say, "I wish you well."
As you practice you learn many tactics in fighting resentments.
And you can be absolutely certain that your handling of them
will keep improving just as long as you keep practicing.
Reprinted from The Best of the Grapevine (Vol. 1), Page 46, from the Grapevine. Reprinted with permission of The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.

Thought to Ponder....

Resentment is like acid,
eating away at the vessel it is stored in.

Recovery Related Acronym

H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

[miss communicat]

Thanks Ann,

I was thinking about this topic earlier this morning when I was running errands. I see so many cars with bumper stickers that say "God Bless America", and I am aware of the need for nations to handle national resentments in much the same way individuals who wish to recover and live happy, joyous and free need to.

This thinking comes from my understanding of Bill W's and the Oxford Group's early vision for AA: to be a force for positive change in the world, not just in the individual recovering alcoholic.

So anyway, when ever I see a bumper sticker that says "God Bless America", I share the intention and, I also privately add to that, "God bless All Countries".

This thought helps me to heal my part in harboring resentments towards others, even the "enemy" nations.

And, yes. It is a digression....perhaps.

The writing in the Grapevine is meant to instruct us in living and growing along spiritual lines in all our daily affairs. Sobriety has allowed me to think beyond myself much more and for that, I am grateful.

[lanie67]

Wow. I am struggling with resentment right now. It's my own fault because of a situation I got involved with. I think sometimes about "vengeance is mine, saith the lord." That is a bible verse and I am not religious at all but that one helps me. A few months ago on another forum, someone was very, very rude to me, based on a rumor that had been spread about me by someone on there, which was a lie. This person was a friend of the rumor-spreader, and they bought it completely. I was online on that forum the other night, and their friend, who had originally lied about me went ballistic on them, accused them of doing things that from my own knowledge just as an observer I knew were not possible. It was so strange to watch, this woman that had been so rude to me, being really verbally assaulted by this man that she had been rude to me out of loyalty to. It just made me realize, once again, why the thing about praying for those against whom I hold resentments to is so vital. Because God or higher power will take care of it in due time, (though not in 'my' time) and in the meanwhile I'm to occupy myself with my own life and be content and have faith, and not worry about seeking vengeance or revenge on people, as that only screws up my own karma and clouds my whole existence with negativity. The prayer for people I resent is like a cross or garlic held up to a vampire, because if I let the vampire in he will suck my blood out of me, for sure.