Fresh Start Club West Branch

09/04/2025

SEPTEMBER 4 Reflection for the Day
Though I have prayed at various times in my life, I realized after several months in Gamblers Anonymous that I’d never really prayed properly. I’d always tried to make deals with God, much like a foxhole atheist; I’d always pleaded, Grant me my wishes, instead of Thy will—not mine—be done. The result was that I remained self-deceived and was thus incapable of receiving enough grace to restore me to a saner way of life.

Do I see that, in the past, when I prayed to God, I usually asked that two and two not make four?

Today I Pray

May I look back and review how I have prayed before, for specific solutions that I, from my earthly vantage, felt were best. May I question, in the longer view of time, whether those solutions would have been right had God chosen to do things my way. In retrospect, may I see that my pleas were not always so wise. May I be content to trust God.

Today I Will Remember

God may not do it my way.

https://gamblersanonymous.ph/september-4-reflection-for-the-day/

09/04/2025

Generational Grief
“Our search for our grief/loss can begin by asking this question: ‘What did I receive from my dysfunctional family and what would I have received from loving parents in the same situation?’”
BRB p. 204
We grew up with expectations of normal, supportive behavior, but our expectations were not met. This spawned a grieving process. We didn’t realize that previous generations were grieving too, which helps explain, but doesn’t excuse their dysfunctional behavior. We often say our parents did the best they could with what they had. Unfortunately, what they had was too often not nearly enough, just as what they had received was not enough.
Unprocessed grief from our childhoods and our ancestors’ childhoods can put us in a perpetual state of mourning. The generational nature of this is called “complicated grief.” This grief can hold us hostage, undermine our ability to function well, and adversely complicate relationships. It can contribute to medical problems, because grief has friends called shame, sadness, depression, and insecurity – a great prescription for being unhealthy.
In ACA, we uncover the roots of our grief, recognize what we didn’t receive as children, and see how we learned to react as a result. ACA teaches us how to stop the grief cycle and become our own loving parents. We do the work for ourselves before we can help future generations have less baggage to carry forward.
On this day I recognize the immense grief I carry. I know I can work through it and change my life, giving myself what I didn’t get as a child. I reparent myself using the tools of ACA recovery.

09/04/2025

Today ( Thursday) at noon

09/03/2025

Tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm

09/03/2025

SEPTEMBER 3 Reflection for the Day
Sometimes, even when friends in and outside of the Gamblers Anonymous Program tell us how well we’re doing, we know deep down that we’re really not doing well enough. We still have trouble handling life and facing reality on reality’s terms. We suspect, at those times, that there must be a serious flaw in our spiritual practice and development. Chances are strong that our trouble lies in either the misunderstanding or neglect of Step Eleven—prayer, meditation, and the guidance of God. The other Steps can keep most of us clean and functioning. But Step Eleven can keep us growing—so long as we try hard and work at it continuously.

Do I trust infinite God rather than my finite self?

Today I Pray

I pray for a deepening of my spiritual awareness, for a stronger faith in the Unseen, for a closer communion with my Higher Power. May I realize that my growth in the GA Program depends on my spiritual development. May I give over more of my trust to God’s eternal wisdom.

Today I Will Remember

I will not give in or give up, but give over to the power of God.

https://gamblersanonymous.ph/september-3-reflection-for-the-day/

09/03/2025

Step Nine
“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
BRB p. 235
Amends can be scary. It’s hard having to admit we are wrong or that we did something to harm another. We learn that our first amends are to ourselves. But we also must make decisions about when amends to others will harm ourselves or others, or when we’re avoiding personal responsibility due to pride.
As we recover in ACA, we learn to trust our instincts. But we also need to be sure that the fear we bring from childhood doesn’t get pulled into the mix inappropriately. We’re adults, and most amends situations we face will put us in very little danger of being physically harmed as we were in childhood. So it’s the emotional part we’re worried about, whether we can handle what comes back at us. And even though we may not realize it right away, that eventually starts to make the decision of whether or not to make amends easier.
After we talk it through with our sponsor and others we trust, we’ll know whether the amends are appropriate; if so, we’ll decide whether we’re strong enough to make them. If not, then we’ll wait until we are.
It’s about keeping our slates clean.
On this day I will make amends to myself first. Then I will prepare for my necessary amends to others, which I will do if, and when, I’m ready.
© COPYRIGHT ACA WSO INC.

09/03/2025

Today (Wednesday) at Noon

09/02/2025

Tonight (Tuesday) is adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families meeting at 530. Then common ground meets at 7pm

09/02/2025

SEPTEMBER 2 Reflection for the Day
When I wake up, I’ll think quietly about the twenty-four hours ahead. I’ll ask God to direct my thinking, especially asking that it be free from self-pity and from dishonest or self-seeking motives. If I have to determine which of several courses to take, I’ll ask God for inspiration, for an intuitive thought, or a decision. Then I’ll relax and take it easy, confident that all will be well.

Can I believe that, when I give up my rights of expectations, I’ll know freedom?

Today I Pray

I praise God for being able to praise God, to choose the times when I will seek Him, to find my own words when I talk to Him, to address Him in the way that seems most right to me. May I expect that He in turn must be free of my expectations, to affect my life as He sees fit.

Today I Will Remember

Who am I to try to tell God what to do?

https://gamblersanonymous.ph/september-2-reflection-for-the-day/

09/02/2025

09/02/2025

Today (Tuesday) at Noon