Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Funny Little Find

So today as I'm doing morning prayer out of an old prayer book (My Prayer Book - Father Lasance) a prayer card fell out. I love prayer cards. Mostly the old ones with the beautiful religious paintings on them. People know that and give them to me all the time. I have a few that belonged to family who have longed past. It's a running joke that I'm the rescuer of religious items. If someone dies and family wants to toss those things out and they give it to me because they know I will keep them.

Well anyway back to the story. So out falls a card. The front says "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference."

But the REVERSE says the following (I think God is trying to tell me something)

A Prayer for those Growing Old

Lord, tThou knowest I am growing older. Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject. 

Release me from the craving to straighten out everyone's affairs.

Keep me from the recital of endless detail. Give me the wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are increasing with the years and my love to speak of them grows sweeter as time goes by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.

Make me thoughtful but not nosey; helpful but not bossey. With my vast store of wisdom and experience it does seem a pity not to use it all.  But Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Amen.

A Day in the Past

Facebook reminded me that  8 years ago I was at the coliseum in Rome. The most amazing observation I made was that it was so quiet. People s...