Regardless if one prays or not, this prayer -written by an abbess- is a must read for all of us, who are getting older (and older).
Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess
Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and especially from the unfortunate habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and at every opportunity.
Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples’ affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.
Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.
Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains — they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.
I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn’t agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint — it is so hard to live with some of them — but a harsh old person is one of the devil’s masterpieces.
Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.
Amen
She nailed it, didn’t she?
I spend a lot of time trying NOT to get involved in other people’s business, but they keep sucking us in anyway. I hate the drama. I just hate it. I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with my own drama and what I want now is a break. A nice, long, drama-free stretch. Some good years of peace.
Years of peace,that sounds excellent. Drama drives me crazy. I don’t take it very well.
This is so true. Cranky old people have a reason often for being cranky, but wise old folk are a treasure. How I’d so like to be like this.
Me too, lot to learn there is 🙂
I do not have the ambition to become a saint — it is so hard to live with some of them 😀 It’s nice to see she had a sense of humor! Yeah, she nailed it!
That made me laugh too.
Bellissima e diversa da tutte le altre preghiere …..
E quanto utile!
Grazie!
Prego, mia amica~!