Tuesday 5 August 2008

A Prayer.

This prayer was written by Dale Evans, wife of Roy Rogers, and I think it's quite cool:

Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I’m growing older, and will someday be old.
Keep me from getting too talkative; particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Deliver me from the need to try and straighten out everybody’s affairs.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.
I ask for grace to listen to the tales of others’ pains; but seal my lips when it comes to my own aches and pains, for they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them gets sweeter as the years go by.
I ask not for improved memory, but for a growing humility and less cocksureness, especially when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others.
Teach me that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet.
I don’t necessarily want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with.
But a sour old woman (or man) is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it; but Thou knowest Lord, I want a few friends at the end.
So give me, I pray, the ability to see blessings in unexpected trials and goodness in less-than-perfect people.
And give me the grace to tell them so,
In Christ’s name, amen.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perfect for me. Thanks! Although I think I'm already on the way to being a sour old woman who talks too much about her aches and pains...

But -

"Keep me from getting too talkative; particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion."

Not so true in the blogging world where people do so love those who comment, huh? LOL!

Anonymous said...

So much truth there. Honest!
PS. Brill seeing my childhood hero No.1. I, fairly recently, actually bought some of his old films!! How sad, aren't I?

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

That's a great prayer, with a good sense of humor about herself.

I read a number of her books when I was a teenager. She went through a lot in her life, including losing a couple of adopted kids in tragic ways. But she kept her hope in God.

Fred Shope said...

Amen! As i get older myself, this is an appropriate prayer.

Doorman-Priest said...

What a fabulous prayer. I will keep in until I am old enough to need it!

Hahahahahahaha

AnneDroid said...

Thanks all. I had the same thought, Jay, about the blogging comments!