A.A. Oldtimers…On the Ninth Step
A.A. Grapevine, July 1945, Vol. 2 No. 2

Like others of the Steps, Number Nine is closely related to Number Three –
“to turn our will and our lives over to God as we understood Him.” If we
have accomplished this step to any measurable degree, we have attained at
least a small measure of humility and a realization of our dependence on
Him.

Having prepared a list of all people we have harmed and brought ourselves
to the point where we are willing to make amends to them, our Ninth Step is
one calling for positive action. There is a world of difference between being
willing to do a thing and actually doing it. How many times in the pre-A.A.
state have we said “I am sorry, I won’t do it again” and felt that that constituted complete amends.