"Serenity Prayer"

A long time ago, I became familiar with the “Serenity Prayer” written by Reinhold Niebuhr. Did you know that it is much longer than what you usually see on posters and plaques? It has been suggested that it not be called the ‘serenity’ prayer, but instead the ‘courage’ prayer or maybe the ‘wisdom’ prayer. It speaks to me in this time of transition and I ask you to join me in offering it in prayer. I’m going to keep a copy at my desk, in my purse and by my remote! I’m going to pull it out when I need to remember to look to God for all things. When it gets real hairy around the office, or when the calls are overwhelming – I’m going to read it again. When the empty office next door starts to look really big and really empty – I’m going to read it again. When I have had to say “I don’t know” too many times – I’m going to read it again.
So, let us pray:

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.”