The Serenity Prayer

My dearly loved late aunt used to say "this is just another day and it too will pass' I have the desiderata on my wall and read it often.

Dannie, I repeat that many,many times in a day x

I find saying to myself "This too will pass" very helpful.

Yes lovely words Chewbacca , but when struggling the Serenity prayer can be brought to mind quickly yes?

I saw this in a stately home in Cheshire. It's called Desiderata, by Max Ehrman:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste
And 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 the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are a vexation to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter;
For always there will be greater & 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.
Niether be critical about love;
For in the face of all aridity & disenchantment ithe is as 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.
Do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are borne of fatigue & loneliness.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & 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 labours & aspirations,
In the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy. May God be with you always.

I’m with you, Anniebach, and in my own experience, acceptance came without my knowing. I didn’t need to try, it just took time.

Yes Marelli, but if we don't learn to accept we cannot find peace of mind can we?

Anniebach, I know....because certain things happen over which we have absolutely no control whatsoever. When these things happen, it takes time to come to terms with and eventually, we hope, we can accept. ?

I think it is important to think on the words as well as pray them, such a simple pray to say but how difficult to reach the point when one realises to accept is all one can do, it needs to be acceptance which doesn't bring anger or resentment with it, then come complete acceptance

‘God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.’

In the past year or so, I’ve spoken this prayer to myself quite often. Some things I have managed to accept (sometimes), and knowledge that the only thing (or person) I can change is myself.
Somehow, reciting the prayer silently to myself, and listening (in my mind) to what the words mean, calms my mind.

Me too Smileless, at very sad and at difficult times, very wise words, acceptance is so important yet so difficult x

Me too Smileless, at very sad and at difficult times, very wise words, acceptance is so important yet so difficult x

It's one of my favourites Annie, I have it on my book marker. 'God grant me the sincerity to accept the things I cannot change' has got me through my darkest and saddest moments.

Has always been important for me Humbertbear

My HT often used to say this prayer in school assembly and I think it entered my psyche as it has always informed how I approach issues in life.

Thank you wise ones.

I think St Augustine lemon .

Yes I very much like the words, I think we see it in practice more than we realise , athletes in the para Olympics for example .

loopyloo that is DH's prayer

St Augustine lemongrove - he whose name is remembered in the naming of many churches and schools!

Maw

Or ‘Lord, make me chaste, but not yet ‘
Who is that attributed to? Saint...?

Lovely words Annie to try and live by.
And ‘ in the darkest hour, comes the dawn’

It's the wisdom bit that gets me. Even after 71 years I still make terrible misjudgements.
Another prayer I like is
" Lord give me patience but hurry!"

I love it too Anniebach but goodness, if everybody observed it there wouldn’t be much happening on GN would there?

I have always liked that prayer Anniebach and the message it gives.

Amen

It's a lovely prayer, Annie. We waste so much time trying to change things that we can never influence.
I say a sort of prayer every day asking for peace in our families. I say all our names and try to picture each one. (I don't see them often).