It was one of those mornings: not enough sleep, a lingering disagreement, a sniffly child. A grumpy morning. A pity-party morning. One where I was just a hair away from giving in to that little sliver in every soul that loves the drama, loves to feel miserable.
And then the words came to my mind like some beautiful unexpected gift. Arose in my memory out of nowhere, and gave me the space to take a single deep breath. And then another. And then I clung to those words all morning, repeating them over and over so that my mind could not travel anywhere else. They were my anchor, reminding me in every second to choose to be a present, to choose to celebrate.
I emerged out of it. In time to apologize. In time to transform the mood in the home into something a little more joyous. In time to say a prayer with that man I love more than words before he left for work. And all I am left with is a speechless thank you. And the lingering taste of that curious experience, the unexpected transformation of grace.
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
(photo Ben's)
4 comments:
I love this.
Oh this is one that I remember somehow. Not sure how or when. Are you Catholic?
Yup: one catholic by birth, one by conversion, one baptized, and one yet to be baptized.
I had the same prayer/song come to me in a very similar moment of grumpiness recently. very soothing & a great reminder to let it go and refocus. I now have an Irish singer's version downloaded to my iPod for future times when I need another reminder!
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