While writing the history of a dear friend of mine, I found an excerpt written very lightly in pencil in her own hand writing that she had found in a magazine article somewhere. I thought its contents were so wonderful that I decided to use if for this weeks entry. It reads:
"Lord, thou knowest that I am growing older. Keep me from being too talkative and particularly keep me from falling into the habit of expressing an opinion on every subject. Please release me from the craving to straighten our everybody's affairs. Keep my mind free form the recital of endless details. Give me wings to get to the point. Give me the grace, Dear Lord,to listen to others describe their aches and pains. Help me to endure the boredom with patience and to keep my lips sealed. For my own aches and pains are increasing in number and intensity and the pleasure of discussing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Teach me to be reasonably sweet; I do not wish to be a saint (saints are so hard to live with) but a sour old woman is the crowning work of the Devil. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not pushy; independent yet able to accept with graciousness, favors that others bestow on me. Free me of the notion that simply because I have lived a long time, that I am wiser than those who have not lived as long. If I do not approve of some of the changes that have taken place in recent years,give me the wisdomcto keep my mouth shut. Lord knows that when the end comes, I would like to have a friend or two left."
I absolutely loved this quote. It reminds me of the word TEMPERANCE which is mentioned in the scriptures in many places. Temperance is the art of shutting our mouths before others want to shut them FOR us. It is food for us to remember that there is a time and a place for everything and sometimes silence is the best medicine of all.
Kathy Christensen
Sister Survivor
Guest Blogger
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