There are times, I'm sure when I'm excited, or nervous or just plain out of touch with my surroundings that I tend to be a motor mouth. Oh I've used the mental duct tape on my mouth many times (who with teens hasn't had to!) but I ran across this beautifully embossed parchment with a prayer on it that I want to share. Someone unknown has a great sense of humor!
It's called the 17th Century Nun's Prayer, source unknown.
"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 craving to straighten out everybody'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 the 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 lessing cocksureness 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, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen."
What thinks thee of this?
suZen
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It should become the world anthem to be sung every morning in every place where people gather. THAT is what I think of this. Amen, xox Wilma
ReplyDeleteHi SuZen .. absolutely as you say and as Wilma confirms .. we do need to think of others, then life will be easier .. we won't be thinking of us - regardless of sweating the rough stuff of older years!
ReplyDeleteLove it .. and my mother definitely must be that person .. she has been incredible .. still is - but sleeping loads now .. Lets hope we can all adhere to some of those .. I hate to think what I'd have been like with kids & hubby .. too terrible I suspect?! thankfully I'm changed somewhat and becoming more so ..
Enjoy the week - Hilary
Ha! I think that's a great prayer for people's entire lives! Especially the part about being humble enough to accept that I am not always right! Wow... That's a lesson - being the mule I can be - that has taken awhile to settle in.
ReplyDeleteThis was great --- thank you, SuZen! Love & laughter to you!
Oh yeah this one is definitely calling my name but I have gotten so much better in my 40's. There is no way that I want to end up cantankerous like my father, of whom I most resemble.
ReplyDeleteI have made a pact with myself to stop repeating my point, to definitely not be whiny and most certainly not talk about my aching back but and the most important thing I am working on is to not join others in gossip but to turn the conversation into what is positive about that person that they are slamming.
A Saint I truly will never be, gladly so, but there's something to be said about being good with a whole lotta sass thrown in, like you???
I think this is a bit of heavenly wisdom and laughter. I too sometimes have motor mouth, I am happy to say as I age it decreases, but I do need to learn to speak up more often and share my wisdom in places other than on my blog...at town meetings and with friends...though I have few...I am learning how to play - that definitely needs to be shared.
ReplyDeleteDelightful, delightful Thank you so much for sharing
Hi Wilma! LOL - yep! Amen and Amen!
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary! I thought this was just precious! I have been talking less as I'm practicing listening wayyyy more, especially with my now grown kids. It's fun to just listen to them and not have to be mommy so much. Hope you have a great week too!
Hi Megan! Yes, I agree that can sure be an issue, mostly the ego thing I think and I try (try!) to not need to be right - except at the track. Being right pays nicely! haha!
Hi Jillian! Oh don't even try to be a saint - how positively boring that would be! haha! Thanks for the "whole lotta sass"! It fits nicely with a dash a sarcasm and a large side order of humor. Fun combo! :) I can change a lot of things but thats my basic personage.
Hi Patricia! Yes, I think my motor mouth has decreased with age as well. I find myself only telling stories that MATTER, that have a lesson, instead of just rambling on and on about basically nothing of importance. That in itself eliminates a lot!
Oh, I can so relate, S. I say this "prayer" often. Truly! I often say, "Help me to listen and not speak." Following the Buddhist path about this on mindful speech has been very helpful to me. :-) I don't want to be a saint but I do want to be kind and more mindful about what I say...and direct and clear when I have to be. But as the DL says, "to help, not to hurt." Otherwise silence is definitely best....xo
ReplyDeleteHi SuZen,
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I like the part about memory. I hope mine sticks around for awhile, but when she goes, I hope I can be gracious about those "memory losses".
Hope you're enjoying your time away. :)
Hi SuZen, brilliant! I just love it when bloggers find these little gems that are so often hidden away.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy
ReplyDelete"Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken."
Perhaps we should learn that when we are young because my daughter, at age 18, is never wrong.
Guess I was just like that at her age.
Good to strike a balance between having confidence to stick to your guns and always being right.
Easier to find that balance as you get older.
My Child,
ReplyDeleteThou hast posted something that grows wiser upon my computer screen the more I read it.
Please don't let me grow into an old sourpuss either. Let me embrace my aches and pains with a touch of "the recipe" the recipe of love, of course.
And let me drink from the fountain of joy all the years of my creation, while wagging more and barking less.
And may I admit my many mistakes and revel in opportunities to move forward.
amen two.
xo
Well I may perhaps be a little of the odd man out in the comments as I am a man, so I'll talk a little about my aunt instead ... who was a nun and a very good and traditional nun at that. Very pleasant demeanor and would joke but wasn't always looking to monopolize the direction of conversation. I laugh now when I think of her sort of common exclamation to a story, "Oh my word." Was a very accomplished and dedicated woman and obedient servant of the Lord. Was Mother Superior of her order, spoke, a large number of languages, contracted malaria on missionary work, I believe in Africa. One interaction I recall was after she had undergone bypass surgery. It didn't make such an impression on me at the time but it has stuck with me, I don't remember the details but it was just a brief look after inquiry about her surgery and health, and it was a look of real hurt (even betrayal), disgust, anger at the likely? unnecessary pain and suffering of the surgery and more so the callous disregard for the dignity and decorum of people which surgery patients can experience. She never said a word, but that brief look told a whole story and it was one of disgust with modern medicine.
ReplyDelete