Seventeenth Century Nun's Prayer

One of my newer blog friends, Portrait of Peter. posted this poem this morning and I asked his permission to copy it.

Now I'm not from the seventeenth century, but the 21st century, and I'm not a nun, but I am a daughter of the King of Kings so I thought I could lay claim to it because of that!!!!

"Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older,

and will some day be old.

Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something

On every subject and on every occasion.

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

Make me thoughtful but not moody;

Helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all,

But thou knowest,

Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;

Give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains.

They are increasing,

and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains,

but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory,

but for a growing humility and a lessening cock sureness

when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others.

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

Keep me reasonably sweet;

I do not want to be a saint -some of them are so hard to live with-

But a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places.

And talents in unexpected people.

And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so. "

I ao can echo these words and thank Peter for showing them to us and letting me share them with you.

Happy Sunday, one week after we celebrated Our Lord's Resurrection-

He is alive and reigns!