A Prayer to Remember

 

Some say it was written by Christian philosopher and martyr Boethius 1500

years ago.

Some link it with 19th century theologian Friedrich Oetinger.

Most often minister/theologian Reinhold Niebuhr is credited with its

authorship.

 

He said he had written the prayer as a tag line to a sermon he had delivered

on practical Christianity.

But he then suggested this prayer may have been “spooking around” for

centuries”…….”but I honesty do believe that I wrote it myself.”

 

Early in World War II, with his permission, the prayer was printed on cards

and distributed to the troops by the U.S.O. It also had been reprinted by

the National Council of Churches. The prayer was widely popularized by the

A. A. movement, who had it printed on small cards for members to carry in

their wallets.

 

At my nephew’s memorial service Tuesday evening, this prayer pierced hearts

as God’s spirit poured through, reminding us that God is the one who brings

inner peace regardless of our chaotic circumstances, as we reflected on the

life of a young man whose life tragically ended in a auto accident Sunday

morning, and left a young lady Sherry H. severely injured.

 

For nearly two years this prayer was part of Jason’s daily ritual. The

words say it all.

 

 

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.