The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I will try to pray, even when I am afraid to face You and myself, even when I keep falling asleep, or feel as though I am going around in circles, even when it seems that nothing is happening. . . . Let me see myself in the light of Your mercy and choose You. --HENRI NOUWEN ======================== This is the essence of it all -- God is, God loves you, God carries all your burdens. --TUKARAM ========================
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when feeling it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. --INSCRIBED ON A CELLAR WALL IN COLOGNE, GERMANY BY A JEW IN HIDING ======================= Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know You, a heart to seek You, wisdom to find You, conduct pleasing to You, faithful perseverance in waiting for You, and a hope of finally embracing You. --ST. THOMAS AQUINAS ======================= May all beings have happiness, and the causes of happiness; May all be free from sorrow, and the causes of sorrow; May all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless; And may all live in equanimity, And live believing in the equality of all that lives. --BUDDHIST PRAYER ======================= LORD JESUS CHRIST,
I LOVE YOU
PLEASE
WALK THROUGH OUR HOUSE
AND TAKE AWAY ALL OUR
WORRIES AND ILLNESSES
IN JESUS NAME. AMEN ======================== God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings. --Rick Warren, "Purpose Driven Life" ======================== Heavenly Father, help us to remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary-looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slowly through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love . It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not only to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. AMEN
thank you, babysteps and mel123, for replying to let me know what I offered because it helps me has helped you too.
I selected these over time as the prayers that speak to me the most at the present time. From time to time, I revise that file on my computer and print out the revised file.
I carry the printout of the current prayers with me to read while waiting in line at a store or in a waiting room at doctor's, to read whenever I am feeling a desire to ask for help or to express gratitude but don't know what to say. The list helps me a lot when I am tired.
Also, I've read a lot of writings by Henri Nouwen over the years and know he is spiritually strong yet also spiritually humble. I keep his prayer at the top of my list to remind me that I need never feel ashamed about whatever state I am in when I pray or avoid praying ...
All of these prayers are meaningful to me, but that one is tops for me, so I keep it on top. lol
Also, a friend shared with me last year the prayer about "walk through our house" when a family she knew had had a lot of sicknesses and sudden death in a short period of time. One of the adults in that family shared with my friend that that was the prayer she used whenever she was troubled by thoughts of all that had recently happened that was hard to bear.
