Dr. Bob and His Heavenly Father

Specific References to 'Heavenly Father' by A.A. Cofounder Dr. Bob

By Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

There are many examples of Dr. Bob’s referring to God as his Heavenly Father, and the following will clearly document the point:

Let’s look first at these in The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous¹ :

• “I used to get a little peeved at our Heavenly Father, because He had been a little slow on the trigger in my own case. I thought I would have been ready to receive the message quite a while before” (pg15).
• “I’m talking about the attitude of each and every one of us toward our Heavenly Father” (pg19).
• “Christ said, ‘Of Myself, I am nothing—My strength cometh from My Father in heaven” (pg19).
• “We had no humility, no sense of having received anything through the grace of our Heavenly Father” (pg19). 
• “But when we take time to find out some of the spiritual laws, and familiarize ourselves with them, and put them into practice, then do we get happiness and peace of mind. I feel extremely fortunate and thankful that our Heavenly Father has let me enjoy them” (pp19-20).

Examples of Jesus’ References to Heavenly Father in His Sermon

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Let’s close with Dr. Bob’s own closing sentence in his personal story in A.A.’s Big Book²:

“Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”

dickb@dickb.com;
www.dickb.com

Gloria Deo

¹ The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1972, 1975), Pamphlet P-53, page 13

² Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., page 181.