Jesus was asked this very question by a Pharisee who was considered to be “an expert in the law” (Matthew 22:34–36).  Jesus answered by saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart,  with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and  most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as  yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two  commandments” (Matthew 22:37–40).

When I stopped living in the problem and began living in the answer, the problem went away. From that moment on, I have not had a single compulsion to drink. And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me. I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes.

Shakespeare  said,  “All  the  world’s  a  stage,  and  all the  men  and  women  merely  players.”  He  forgot  to mention  that  I  was  the  chief  critic.  I  was  always  able to  see  the  flaw  in  every  person,  every  situation.  And  I was  always  glad  to  point  it  out,  because  I  knew  you wanted  perfection,  just  as  I  did.  A.A.  and  acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children  of  God  and  we  each  have  a  right  to  be  here.When  I  complain  about  me  or  about  you,  I  am  com-plaining  about  God’s  handiwork.  I  am  saying  that  I know  better  than  God

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book), 4th Edition, P. 417