A 17th Century Nun's Prayer!

OK, so I am a protestant and am happy to be one. Still, the common sense wisdom and humor that emanates from this anonymous Nun's prayer is unavoidable. I think all of us who work in ministry (as well as everyone else, for that matter) could stand to read and heed the following. You can find several online sources for this prayer, one of which shows it in a slightly different order. 

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 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 others’ 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 so hard to live with . . . but a sour old woman 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. 

--by a Mother Superior, who wishes to remain anonymous

Me thinks she has a point!

Humbly wincing!? 

Dave