Repost of something I wrote several years ago

[thatcrazycajun]

A DAILY PRAYER

Dear God in heaven,

Help me to face all of life’s troubles with calmness and strength, and not to give in to depression and despair.

Keep me mindful of the love of my family and friends, even when I am furious or frightened and feel most alone.

Grant me the patience and understanding to treat them with the love and respect they have earned, even when they are angry or frightened.

Remind me of the kindnesses they have done me when I have deluded myself into believing that they hate me, wish to harm me or do not care about me.

Bring me to understand that their dislike of my actions or words does not mean they have ceased to love me; and that loving me does not obligate them to endorse my poor behavior, nor to rescue me from its consequences.

Let me find the discipline and integrity to keep all of my promises and fulfill all of my obligations promptly and in full, in both letter and spirit; and the maturity to recognize and deal with the consequences of not having done so at once, rather than being in denial and avoidant.

Give me the will and integrity to stand and accept responsibility for my misdeeds, failings and errors; and the courage to do whatever is needed to make amends.

Make me at all times gentle and forgiving toward others, as I would have them be toward me ... even when they fail to be.

Steel me with courage to face my enemies, humble me with appreciation for my friends...and endow me with the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

Enable me to shoulder my burdens, misfortunes and sorrows with a light heart and to rejoice in my successes, good fortune and blessings.

Show me that which is good in me, that I may realize its fullest potential; and also that which is bad, that I may reduce it to its least.

Let no sunrise come that I do not seek to do good for another; and let no sunset find my anger and hate still kindled toward another.

And make me always grateful and honoring of You for bestowing these things I ask upon me each and every day.

—Matt G. Leger

Comments

Yes

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

Powerful and deeply moving. I strongly suspect that your religious beliefs and mine don't match, but that doesn't stop me from responding strongly to this prayer. May it always work for you.

Nate B.

Re: Yes

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Coming from you, Nate, that's high praise indeed; thank you. It was originally conceived as a way to help myself deal with the problems caused by clinical depression. More recently, I have also added a new line:

"Give me the discipline to honor all of my commitments promptly, in both letter and spirit; and the maturity to recognize and deal with the consequences of failing to do so at once, rather than being in denial and avoidant."

Considering the source?

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I would, generally speaking, far rather be a positive person than a negative one, and this week has been a good one for praise to others from me. But you should know that we have one other thing in common. I have the diagnosis of acute clinical depression, agitated variety ("nervous wreck syndrome" -- were you and I in the same room at one point a couple of years ago at GaFilk?) and post-traumatic stress disorder. So we may be fighting our way back from similar stuff, which would explain why your prayer resonates so well for me. Let's keep doing what we need to do, not just to feel better, but to act better, so that we don't help our own lives self-destruct. (I can tell you're on that kind of track already. I hope I am too!)

Nate

[tovahs.livejournal.com]

I hope you know I am going to text nap this. I need to remind myself of many of the points you made.

}{ugs

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Hugs back atcha and be my guest, if you feel it can be of help to you. This is kind of the philosophy behind the name of this journal; I feel I am always trying to make my way toward being a better person than I have been, i.e., "stumbling toward the light." Even if I could largely eliminate my dysfunctional behaviors, I will always be a work in progress...and any truly alive person will be too.

what is normal?

[baggette.livejournal.com]

text napping too!

Thanks Matt, you made my evening. And after this particular day, with what lies ahead of me tomorrow, this is much appreciated indeed.

We, here, are survivors of multiple traumas and on-going clinic depression. My home has become a refuge for the passively suicidal and desperately bi-polar. My oldest son recently told me that he is the only one here that is "normal". I told him that it's fun to think that, but he is just currently un-diagnosed. --Still have a small sense of humor left. Fortunately, he agreed.

Take care and keep me on your prayer list. You are on mine :-)

Re: what is normal?

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. If God hears prayers from one of His most wayward, rebellious agnostic children, I shall be glad to pray for you.

To paraphrase Nancy the Button Lady, "There are no 'normal' people -- just ones you don't know very well yet." :-)