The Christmas Spirit by Billiette S. December 1969  

Christmas is a joyous time – a time of love – a time of giving to those we love – a time when we think and long for those distant but not forgotten friends – a time of laughter and friendly companionship with our friends and neighbors – a time when your walk down the busy street and everyone seems as if they want to say Merry Christmas.  Even those commercialistic stores seem to be filled with the Spirit of Christ.

Why is it that most of us seem to lose the Spirit of Christmas the day after Christmas?  If we could keep this Spirit in our hearts every day of our lives, it wouldn’t be long before “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” would become a reality.   

   We in AA have been “God’s chosen people to live this way.  Christ’s birth was a miracle –” Bill W’s spiritual awakening was a miracle, God so loved us alcoholics that the 12 Steps come through Bill W’s awakening.

   We live the 12^th Step to help other alcoholics, but there are other ways that we can live the 12^th Step.

   Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies of gifts.  The only true gift is a portion of Thyself.”

   Almost anything in the world can be bought for money, except the warm impulses of the heart.  They have to be given and they are priceless in their power to purchase happiness.  “It is not so much the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver”.

   Try spending yourself this year. How?  You know from experience that gift from the heart has given you the most pleasure.  Such a little gift as a compliment, a visit to a sick or lonely person, a long-overdue letter, a greeting card, a telephone call, a smile, a smile act that reflects thoughtfulness and concern.  These little things you give are the truest form of giving.

   Every one of us in AA has asked for God’s help to keep our sobriety.  Let us in AA asks God’s help to carry the Christmas Spirit over into each day of our lives.

  Give from your heart, and you will see what magic will come into your life!

Receiving Billiette’s Call – The Christmas Spirit

We took our yearly family photo at Christmas when it was sent to others wishing them a Happy New Year. This photo was taken January 1962 at 1422 River Road Fargo.

In the photo of Dad and I, we can see that mom took it in front of our first Christmas tree as a family in December 1944.  I grew up with Mom, Dad, and I praying “lay me down to sleep, I pray my soul to keep”… we said the 1662 Anglican BCP Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, which art in Heaven,
Hallowed by thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done|
on earth, as it is in heaven:
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil;
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

I changed the above Lord’s prayer to the following when teaching it to my children.

Our Fathers and Mothers, which art with us,
Hallowed be our Names;
Our kingdom come;
Our wills be done
on earth, as it is in heaven:
Help us this day produce our daily bread;
And help us understand our trespasses,
as we seek to understand those that trespass against us;
And help us understand temptation,
For ours is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

This Receiving finishes with a call to Ukraine, Russia, China, Germany, France, Spain, England, Brazil, Cuba, United States, all Nations to establish Parallel Societies creating a freer World.

Steven S.  March 2, 2022