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Meredy's Place to Reflect

A MOTHER'S PRAYER

Lord I come to you in prayer

That you may hear my plea

My child is struggling for answers

He cannot find in me

His life is at a crossroad

And he knows not which path to take

Yet he knows that his future depends

On the decisions that he makes

He's taken the wrong road

Many times before

Now he's searching for the answers

So this time he can be sure

He seems to be stalled Lord,

As the end of his youth is near

He looks at roads he's never traveled

Filling his heart with fear

Lord won't you please guide him

Give him faith and help him stand

Won't you please watch over him

As he becomes a man

~~ Kay Scruggs ~~

~~ Thanks for sending it, Kay :-) ~~

The Prayer of St. 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; ...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.

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I need you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." - Author unknown

Let Go and Let God

As children bring their broken toys, with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because He is my friend. But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own. At last, I snatched them back again and cried, "How can you be so slow?" "My child" He said, "What could I do? You never did let go."

The Serenity Prayer

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living ONE DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen

Reinhold Neibuhr-1926

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. - old Irish blessing

Apache Wedding Blessing

"Now you will feel no rain, For each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, For each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness, For each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, But there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place To enter into the days of your togetherness. And may your days be good and long upon the earth."

1st Corinthians 13:1-8a N.I.V.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight. If a child lives with shame, He learns to be shy. If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, He learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice. If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world.

Dorothy Law Nolte

Nurse's Prayer

Lord, please help me to bring, Comfort where there is pain, Courage where there is fear, Hope where there is despair, Acceptance when the end is near, and a touch gentle with tenderness, patience and love.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low, and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won if he stuck it out; Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, It's when things seem worse, That you must not quit.

God's Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist, And the thunder begins to die, As the sporadic lightning fades, An arch of colors pours from the sky

Rainbows appear after mighty storms, When things look their worst, Just when the skies are darkest gray, Out of heaven does the rainbow burst

God first sent the rainbow to Noah ,As a sign that His word is true, The rainbow's eternal message, Still speaks to me and you

The rainbow is a sign of God's promise, That He will guide us through any storm, That He will ease all our troubles, No matter what their form

When you feel battered by life's storms, And you are filled with doubt and dismay, Just remember God's rainbow is coming, For its blessing you have only to pray.

Abou Ben Adhem

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An Angel writing in a book of gold: Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the Presence in the room he said, "What writest thou?" The Vision raised it's head, And with a look made of all sweet accord Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then, Write me as one who loves his fellow­men." The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!

James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)

Miracle

Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger.... Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.

Phillips Brooks

In Sympathy

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow, I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the ripening fields of grain.

I am in the morning hush, I am in the graceful rush, Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am in the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room, I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I do not die.

Mary E. Frye, 1932

A Tribute to Barry

You were taken prematurely, I'll always wonder why, Although we're not to question, A summons from Most High.

You loved nature and photography, And making things by hand. You loved books and sports and family, You were a gentle man.

I miss our quiet moments. I miss our laughter, too, But I'd like you to know, dear brother, That above all, I miss you.

---Meredy---

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