Almost a Prayer.....Desiderata

It's almost a prayer.  It's good instruction for life.  It's a poem, by Max Ehrmann, that was largely unknown during his lifetime.  He wrote it in 1927, and died in 1945.

But it was used in a collection of devotional materials by a reverend in Maryland in 1956 and found it's way to us all, somehow, from there.  What is meant to be.......will be.

It has always spoken to me.  In particular now the verse "Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth."  I think it speaks to us all, no matter what stage you are in.   I have always loved it, and it's Sunday.  Enjoy.

Desiderata

Max Erhmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, remember what peace there may be in silence.   

As far as possible, without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings. 

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.  

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations.  

In the noise and confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world.  

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Prayer For Guidance and Protection To Those Who I Love

Time for another prayer.  I found this at 2heartsnetwork.org

I ask for your prayers for those children who have no voice and have been caught in our corrupt, cookie-cutter, one size fits all legal system.  God help us all.  Help us to lean on You in the darkness, Lord, and to trust that You are in control, whatever the world may do.

Prayer For Guidance and Protection To Those Who I Love

Oh heavenly Father, out Protector and 

Guide, You are the greatest Friend and Joy we have!  To be able to come to You in prayer like this is the most beautiful part of our lives!

It is not for myself that I want to pray 

today, dear Father, but for those who are

near and dear to me and about whom I am

worrying.  You know what they are facing,

dear Father.  And You know most of all the 

deepest reasons why these things have 

come upon them!

And You know how I want to help.  Truly I 

think it would be easier if I could only face

what they are facing.  But You know how

helpless we are to help another even

though we know what is just and right.

Only You are left, dear Father.  Do be with 

them in all things at all times.  Protect them

from enemies and evil, my Father.  Forgive 

them their sins and pt love of others in

their hearts.

Do make them happy in their lives at home,

dear Father, and help them live as You 

would have them live.  Above all, put love in

their hearts for You.

And thank You, my Father, for Your

goodness to them and to me.  Thank You

for Your love and guidance and protection!

May we honor you all the days of our lives.

And be happy and uplifted even as I feel right now!

Amen

The Healing Prayer

Time for another prayer.  Can there ever be enough?  

The other night I was enraged by an adult who told my child they were going to kill his dog.  I purposely did not confront this so-called adult that night because I didn't want to go all crazy mom on her.  I try to limit that to my own children or pets.  


By that evening I had planned to give her a call and simply ask her how it would make her feel if I came up to her child and told that little girl that I was going to kill her pet. I did not think she had thought her actions all the way through.  I still don't think she did.  Some people never grow up.  I feel sorry for their parents and their children equally.  My child responded in a respectful manner to her and as apparently the 14 year old was the only "adult" in the conversation. I am very proud of him for that.  "And a little child shall lead them".  Needless to say, I went to bed upset and prayed further about it.

At 1 am I received a call from one of my best friends who had been informed that she had what the Dr. thought was a malignant tumor in her lung.  


This brought everything into perspective and made all the small stuff fly right out the window of my brain.  Frankly, I found it a relief.  


In the end, I know that I cannot control anything but myself, and even that is a battle I do not always win.  I have taught my children to always be respectful of adults, whether the adults deserve it or not, and that much has stuck with them.  My mission has been accomplished.  Others' behavior is on them.  May God help them.


I spent the next day praying hard for my friend and mulling over how much we all need healing.  Whether you need physical or spiritual healing I think this prayer is good.  I hope you enjoy it.

The Healing Prayer 

By Wayne V

(New Orleans)

Lord I know that I am not worthy of you.  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me and I plead the blood of Jesus for the repentance of my sins.  I ask that the blood of Jesus cleanses and heals me of any disease and sin.

I have faith and trust that it is by your stripes I am healed, by your blood I am cleansed and by your sacrificed body I am made whole. I pray for the restoration of my body, soul, mind and spirit and I ask to be forgiven of my trespasses. 

I ask that a hedge of protection be over me and pray that the blood Jesus has shed on the cross be spread over that hedge to protect me from any of the enemies' toils and snares. 

Let no weapon formed against me prosper and may the light of God shine though me that I may be given to bring deliverance, and healing to all in Jesus' name. 

God, I am your vessel please use me as you see fit. Help me to discern right from wrong, good from bad, righteousness from evilness, goodness from sin, and the virtuous from the evildoers. 

Let my faith increase and my prayers be as a beautiful melody to your ears. Thank you for saving my soul and for taking care of me. I love and honor you for you are my savior, my Lord, my God, my all in all. 

-Amen

Read more: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/the-healing-prayer.html#ixzz1x1x1VqTv

The Healing Prayer

Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace

I have another prayer today.  Following the devastation in Joplin, Mo., as well as all the other states that have been hit by tornadoes or flooding recently, I think it's appropriate.

The United States of America is made up of wonderful people.  It has come home to me in countless ways that we really are at our best during the worst of times. 

I think it is important to spend time at prayer when you are not asking for anything.  As a parent, I cannot help but think that God appreciates that. 

He knows what we want.  He knows what we need.  These things are often the opposite of each other, at least in my case.  Blind trust is hard, even with God.  The arrogance of man is truly what sets us apart from the animals.  How caught up we get in what we "want"....what we "need".  I have even caught myself trying to explain things to God before!  Once you start explaining it's hard to tell when it will end, but not where it will end up.  It always ends up in the same place, I just take the long way around sometimes.  I'm getting better, but still have far to go and I may never get there!  I don't worry about the destination anymore.  I'm caught up in the journey these days, still learning to trust blindly and trying not to miss the lessons. 

Sometimes you have to just quit asking and listen and you might be surprised what you hear.  Surrender.  You will feel better knowing that you aren't required to do it all by yourself.  There will be help.  Don't wonder where it will come from, just trust that it will.  It just will.  Really.

This is dedicated to all the public servants, volunteers, bikers, truckers, circus workers, elephants, and everyone who helps in any way to do the Lord's work.  Look around.  They are everywhere!!

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is offence, pardon,
Where there is discord, unity,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is error, truth,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is sadness, joy,
Where there is darkness, light.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Theresa's Prayer

So many times we associate prayer with wants, needs, bad things.  Switch it up sometimes and just enjoy the moment.  Believe that there are no mistakes but that a plan is in place.  It can be hard sometimes.  I like this one for times when nothing has gone terribly wrong lately, or even it it has, that I am not alone or lost.

Here is a short history of St. Theresa, who was very young but had a very strong will. 
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=105

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God..

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,

Dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Amen

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

This is for one of my friends who is Jewish and has been going through some very frightening times.  I have been praying for her to find her strength and for God to protect her. 
http://www.faith.com/library/prayer/ancient.html
The link above is a place where you can look up all different prayers from all different religions and even different periods.

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

O Lord, You have been our refuge in every generation.
Before the mountains came into being,
  before You brought forth the earth and the world,
  from century to eternity You are God.

You return man to dust;
  You decreed, "Return you mortals!"
For in Your sight a thousand years
  are like yesterday that has past,
  like a watch of the night.
You engulf men in sleep;
  at daybreak they are like grass that renews itself;
  at daybreak it flourishes anew;
  by dusk it withers and dries up.
So we are consumed by Your anger,
  terror-struck by Your fury.
You have set our iniquities before You,
  our hidden sins in the light of Your face.
All our days pass away in Your wrath;
  we spend our years like a sigh.
The span of our life is seventy years,
  or, given the strength, eighty years;
  but the best of them are trouble and sorrow.
They pass by speedily, and we are in darkness.
  Who can know Your furious anger?
Your wrath matches the fear of You.
Teach us to count our days rightly,
  that we may obtain a wise heart.

  Turn, O LORD!
How long?
Show mercy to Your servants.
  Satisfy us at daybreak with Your steadfast love
  That we may sing for joy all our days.
Give us joy for as long as You have afflicted us,
  for the years we have suffered misfortune.
Let Your deeds be seen by Your servants,
  Your glory by their children.
May the favor of the LORD, our God, be upon us;
  let the work of our hands prosper,
  O prosper the work of our hands!

Adapted bedtime prayer for adults

All I did was copy and paste this from Facebook.  It's everywhere today, the day I woke up to find that Usama Bin Laden has reportedly been shot and killed and then buried at sea by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I couldn't resist passing it on, and I have no idea who thought this up, nor do I take any credit for originating it in any way.  I'm just passing it on and marking this day in my blog.  No telling what will happen next in this world, but today I feel America is united in a good way.  Sadly, it's the first time in a long time I have felt that way.  I have some extra hope today.  Enjoy this if you haven't already seen it.

Now I lay me down to sleep, one less terrorist this world does keep.

With all my heart, I give my thanks, to those in uniform regardless of ranks.

You serve our country and you serve it well, with humble hearts, your stories tell.
...
So as I rest my weary eyes, while freedom rings, our flag still flies.

You give your all, do what you must...with God we live and God we trust.

Amen

On grief and fog

Mysterious grand piano found on Biscayne Bay sandbar - Miami-Dade Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=omni_popular

So, a grand piano has been found abandoned on the highest point of a sand bar in Florida. 
I love this story for several reasons.
To begin with, who is not wondering what the story is on this?
Was this someone's reaction to their ex getting the piano in the divorce?  Did the person who played it die and this is a kind of memorial?  How in the world did they get it there?  There must, MUST be a good story behind it. 
But I don't really want to know what that story is.  To know the truth would ruin the whole thing for me.

I prefer to believe it was left as a kind of memorial. 
The picture, to me, perfectly illustrates the state of being known as "grief".  The once grand and beautiful, gleaming piano sits on the sand, abandoned, used and ruined for all practical intents and purposes.  But someone once loved it very, very much.  That someone would not be put off by the piano's appearance now.  That person would only see all the wonderful memories this piano holds for them.  That person would see beauty in the waves rolling in around that piano.  I would like to see a picture of it with that happening.  I would like to see a picture of it with fog rolling all around it.
Fog is similar to grief in my mind.  Grief comes upon you like a wave and knocks you off your feet.  It does this regardless of whether you know it is coming and have had time to prepare for it. 
There is no "preparing" for grief. 
It comes and you are suddenly floating upside down in the tide of life, hearing the scraping of the shells and the sand, and not even caring if it drags you down and takes you away.  Being taken away can seem like a pretty good option in this state, but of course, in your heart you know it could never be that easy.  You know in your heart you are going to have to stand and endure it even though you would rather hide away and forget it. 
You move in a fog of grief.  You speak slower and softer.  Everyone else seems to also.  The edges of all things are blunted by how disconnected you feel to, well, pretty much everything.  You are lost in the fog of grief.  It is like a coccoon, sheltering and obscuring you to others.  You are not alone, but you wish you were.  You sense other shapes moving but can't make them out.  Perhaps for the first time in your life, people finally leave you alone.  So you can sleep.  Trouble is, you can't sleep.  And every time you do, there is a horrible "remembering" because your grief is the first thing in your mind when you wake up.  You have to get used to it all over again.
You are suddenly aware of how many things you could not care any less about.  The world keeps spinning and you are amazed by that too.  It seems like time stops when you get hit by grief, but it turns out this only true for you.  Time does not really stop, you just cease to care about it.
The fog lifts gradually.  You don't really notice it going away until one day you are transfixed by some thing that has been illuminated in a ray of light that has made it through the fog.  You realize you just felt happy and then you immediately feel guilty for feeling happy.
Then one day you realize the fog has gone, you have kept moving long enough to simulate the living of a normal life.  The pressure is off enough for you to look back and assess the damage.
The thought that you are the only person who truly knows what the damage is feels like another responsibility that must remain a secret.  You wonder if you will always feel so alone and realize that the answer is probably yes.  You wonder if you will have to keep pretending your whole life.  You wonder if everyone else is just pretending too.
Does grief ever pass?  Not to my knowledge.  It just becomes a part of you and you alone have to decide how much a part of your life grief will manage to claim.
The good news is, with grief comes stark, brutal truth.
Everyone who is born must some day die.  We know this. 
The trick to dealing with grief, for me, has been to not lose the lesson of dying. 
The lesson of dying is how very beautiful our lives are.  Even the most miserable life is surrounded by breathtaking beauty in this world.
The lesson of dying is to do the very best you can every time, no matter what the cost, because when your time comes you want to be proud of your life and how you lived it.  You want to have no regrets but for the temporary separation of you from your loved ones. 
It is a temporary separation.  This is the hope that will help you get up every morning, face your brutal reality, and keep moving to simulate the life of a responsible person.
While simulating this life, look up.  Look up and see how beautiful this world is.  Every moment of our days and nights there is beauty all around us.  Learn to be thankful for beauty and joy, and do not feel guilty.  Your loved one would not want that.  They would want you to have the full experience that you have been put on this earth to fulfill. 

Everything that happens to you, good or bad, shapes you.  Use it all.  Be willing to adjust to the changes God puts in your life.  Ride the current, rather than wasting all your strength fighting against it.  We only get one ride.  Make the most of it.
And when you pray, pray the only prayer you ever need to know:  Thy will be done.
Then just trust. 
The fog will lift, eventually.  Grief will become part of you, making you more than you were before.