No Whinning

"I fractured a disc in my spine in early November --was bedridden for three weeks..developed a cold for the next two weeks and it rained for five days where I was living at the time.  I'm 82 years old and starting to feel it.

Now Lord, you’ve known me a long time. You know me better than I

know my self. You know that each day I am growing older, and some

day may even be very old, so meanwhile please keep me from the habit

of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every

occasion.

Please keep me from trying to straighten out every ones affairs. Make

me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful but not overbearing. I’ve a

certain amount of knowledge to share; still it would be very nice to have

a few friends who, at the end, recognize and forgave the knowledge I

lacked,

Keep my tongue freed from the recital of endless details. Seal my lips

about my aches and pains; they increase daily and the need to talk about

them becomes almost a compulsion. I ask for grace enough to listen to

the telling of other’s afflictions, and to be helped to endure them with

patience.

I would like to have improved memory, but, I’ll settle for humility, and

an ability to capitulate when my memory clashes with the memory of

others. Teach me the glorious lesson that on some occasions, I may be

mistaken.

Keep me reasonably kind; I’ve never ascribed to be a saint...Saint’s must

be rather difficult to live with. Yet on the other hand, an embittered old

person is a constant burden.

Please give me the ability to see good in unlikely places and talents in

unlikely people. And, give me the grace to tell them so, dear Lord."

Author unknown


(Cary Grant @ closing of his presentation)