When we attempt to control things, events, or people we can’t control we become frustrated. Our frustration often turns to anger and we say or do things we later regret. The Serenity Prayer offers a way through this conundrum.
“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
A savvy country gentleman gave me a piece of advice that worked wonders for me. Early in my career I was in a breakfast restaurant sitting alone in a booth working on the second of my two breakfast tacos. The place was crowded and this big, gray haired guy comes up to my booth and says, “Mind if we share the booth?” I nodded. Ten minutes later we knew each other’s names and were talking. I should say I was doing most of the talking and he was doing most of the listening. I kept talking while he drank his coffee and ate. When I was talked out, he jabbed his fork at me and said, “Ray, I’ll give you two pieces of advice after all of your complaining. First, suck it up and stop complaining. Second, wish in one hand and poop (he didn’t use the word poop) in the other. See which one you get first.” I stared at him and then broke into a large grin. I said, “Sam, I needed that.” From that moment on I did a lot less complaining and lot more work. It was the prescription I needed.
My mom taught me many life lessons that remain with me. She taught me how to hold a fork and knife, to be polite, to pray, to learn something new everyday, and more importantly she taught me kindness. I am grateful for her, her wisdom and love. She’s been gone for a while, but she’s never too far away from me. If your mom is alive stay in touch with her, let her know you love her. You’ll never regret it. What life lessons did she teach you?
“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
It’s raining as I write this post. The roads will be slick for a bit then the oil will wash off. If you’ve never lived in south Texas you might not be expecting to slide through an intersection. I can happen if it hasn’t rained for a while and you happen to be out and about when it starts. Life is like that. Sometimes the unexpected events pop into our lives. They fall on a spectrum from a wonderful surprise to something quite the opposite. Whatever it is, we have to react to it if we’re to have any control over the eventual affect of the surprising event on us. If we trust ourselves, have self confidence and a solid foundation, we will make it through. Whatever comes your way today, and I hope it’s all good, you already have the strength and wisdom to deal with it. Go forward with confidence.
The little box gets her first teeth
And her little length
Little width little emptiness
And all the rest she has
The little box continues growing
The cupboard that she was inside
Is now inside her
And she grows bigger bigger bigger
Now the room is inside her
And the house and the city and the earth
And the world she was in before
The little box remembers her childhood
And by a great longing
She becomes a little box again
Now in the little box
You have the whole world in miniature
You can easily put in a pocket
Easily steal it lose it
Take care of the little box
I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.
At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.
The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.
As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.
I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.
I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.
But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.
Leave your front door and your back door open.
Allow your thoughts to come and go.
Just don’t serve them tea.
NOTE: Do you know someone who believes his/her way is the only way? I do. I suffered from that disease when I was younger. Experience taught me, often through painful lessons, that my way was not the only way. When I understood there are as many paths as there are people the world became a friendly place. Instead of trying to argue with them, I began to try to understand them hoping they could teach me something I didn’t know. An open mind opens us up to multiple possibilities.
by Anonymous
“A happy new year” it will be—if it’s new:
New visions of all that is noble and true,
New powers for service, new knowledge of God,
New zeal for the ways that the heroes have trod,
New comforts, new courage, new graces, new joys,
New peace where the evil assails or annoys,
New friendship, new helpers, new faith and new love,
New treasures on earth and new treasures above,
New wisdom, new glory, new health, and new cheer,
Nothing old, all things new, in the happy new year!
