Today’s prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change – like people, places, and things.
Some things I cannot change are in the past:
- the dumb and dangerous things I did;
- the things, real and imagined, that others did to me.
Other things are how the people I know and love are choosing to live their lives.
This serenity – this calm expectation of help from on high, resolving misunderstandings, healing rifts, repairing relationships, and restoring what I can’t — isn’t permanent.
But it is always available, free and a prayer away.
God I believe; help Thou my unbelief. (Mark 9:23-25)
God give me courage to change the things I can– which is always, me and my attitudes, words, and deeds.
Will it kill me to keep my mouth shut, my emotions in check, and count to 10, or 10 trillion?
Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. ~Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, c.1420
And oh how I need wisdom, Lord, to know the difference.
That begins when I put on my gratitude glasses, adjust my focus – life is not about me– and when I forgive it’s because I deep down inside I know I need to be forgiven.
“You can still make a decision to forgive that person whether or not that person feels remorse. Forgiveness is always your choice. Satan will always give you a good reason not to forgive, but true forgiveness through God’s love will free you from the prison you’re in. Unforgiveness is like carrying a dead body.” ~ Prayers Out of Compton
