Wednesday, 1 April 2009

Famous Prayers - Serenity Prayer: Reinhold Niebuhr

Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

Always lovely - it's a shame that we see it so often that its loveliness can be overlooked.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him in the next.
Amen

I love the word 'serenity'. It embodies much of what I long for in life. And its something that increases with age - unlike most other things which decrease with age!

4 comments:

  1. I love this prayer but didn't know it was longer than the first three lines..thank you!!

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  2. Yes - it's beautiful, isn't it? And actually quite challenging.

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  3. Thought I'd look up what serenity actually means - various definitions but this one attracted me:
    a disposition free from stress or emotion or the absence of mental stress or anxiety
    So yes please, I'd like some of that! Thanks Kath, another one to make me think.

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