A Prayer

[mdshunk]

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will someday be old.

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

Release me from craving to try to 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 enough to listen to the tales of other’s pains. Help me to endure them with patience.

But seal my lips on my own aches and pains… they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

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

Keep me reasonably sweet… I do not want to be a Saint (some of them are hard to live with), but a sour old person 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 all… but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

(author unknown... Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention)

[Homer]

I love that prayer!!

Always be aware that helping others by sharing one's wisdom can really stroke the ego. Where there's too much strokin' there's usually swelling which is never a good thing where the ego is concerned. Just remember that you can't help everyone.

One of the pearls of wisdom I have learned over the years is that "sometimes the truth is best left unspoken." The tough part is knowing when to say nothing. I guess it's like the military philosophy of "don't volunteer information" but the military trains you on when and what to say.

Just never share that "pearl of wisdom" with your spouse.

Homer

[4CYCLE]

Amen To Both!