Light-Hearted Prayer

I have been using this blog to share selections from material that I received through the internet over the years.  But I also have some treasured old volumes of humor.  Two are by Tom Mullen:  Laughing out Loud and Other Religious Experiences and Seriously, Life is a Laughing Matter.  The first chapter of the latter is titled "A Light-Hearted Call to a Devout and Holy Life" and concludes with a prayer attributed to a 17th century nun.  I share it as I find myself praying similarly these days.

O Lord, keep me from getting talkative.  And particularly from the fatal habit that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.  Seal my lips when inclined to tell of my aches and pains.  They are increasing with the years and my love of rehearsing them grows 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 woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Help me to extract all possible fun out of life.  There are so many funny things around us, and I do not want to miss any of them.

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, my Lord, knoweth that I want a few friends left at the end.

I say, "Amen" to that.