Monday, December 19, 2011

Healing Memories

My mother loved to laugh. And sometimes her humor included mischievous and subtle teasing. On one of my visits to Mother after she had moved to Provisions Living, she asked me to type some Scripture references and the words of “A Personal Prayer” from a newspaper clipping for her in big type that she could easily read.

When I was back at home after our visit, I typed the Scripture references first. I posted about those references here.

As I typed the words from the yellowed and worn clipping, it dawned on me that she was giving me a sly little Annette Carpenter nudge about the changes that aging was bringing to my behavior.

I also posted that prayer. But I am posting it here again as one of the memories of my mother that Bob Jones shared in the eulogy he delivered during her funeral service. Bob is seniors minister at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. Main Street was Mother’s church and the church I grew up in. And Bob was a long-time family friend and neighbor.

Here are the words from that clipping. There was no author or date on it. And I still need to be praying for divine help in correcting these bad habits!

A Personal Prayer
Lord, you know I am growing older. Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject. Release me from the craving to straighten out everyone’s affairs.

Keep me from the recital of endless detail. Give me strength to get to the point.

Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are increasing with the passing of years, and the love to speak of them grows sweeter as time goes by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.

Make me thoughtful, but not nosy. Helpful, but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom and experiences, it does seem a pity not to use it at all. But you know, Lord, that I do want a few friends in the end.

10 comments:

  1. oh my, this prayer is one i need to memorize, i SEE ME in each part of it. OH NO and thank you. what a great prayer for the eulogy. thanks for sharing. it may pop up on my blog sometime. it needs to be OUT there.

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  2. That prayer is wonderful! I'm going to carry it with me, and hopefully I'll remember to read it from time to time. :)

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  3. Thanks for sharing this prayer. Good thoughts for all of us. Getting to the point is sometimes hard for a senior. Dianne

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  4. What a wonderful prayer and one I should post in plain sight to remember daily. Thank you.

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  5. I want to say thank you too. I just copied it and it will appear on my blog at sometime too (with thanks to you)
    Wow, this is me too. Its going to be my prayer.
    Wishing you a beautiful Christmas and may the Lord surround you with extra love this season.

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  6. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is a prayer I must post above my desk. It is one I must memorize. It is one that I hope to be given the grace to follow.

    Your mother was such a dear person.

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  7. Thank you so much for sharing this prayer with us! I am going to post a copy of it on my frige to be a constant reminder NOT to do these things which I am already guilty of doing!

    I hope you are well. I thought of you throughout the holidays...

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  8. I love your mother's sense of humor. I think we all could use a bit of that reminder once in a while :)

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  9. Yep. Add me to that list - I'll put this prayer up next to my computer - where my best friend can refer to it!

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