I'm struggling to quiet the noise of life lately.
Thoughts of shopping lists, to-dos, and wish lists keep swarming. For good measure, I'm mixing in heartfelt worries and emotions that the season always brings. Despite my best abilities, finding calm for my heart is hard to come by. When this happens, I allow the words of others to be my prayer.
Lately, I've been thinking about St. Francis and his simple, beautiful prayer. Even though I'm not Catholic and don't truly know much about the Italian friar from the 13th century, I do know the prayer named for him. Scholars agree that the prayer was not written by him, but inspired by his dedication to simplicity, poverty, and peace.
My mother adored St. Francis. Probably because she spent a good part of her teen years being taught by Catholic nuns in a convent. The tiny statue of him was ever-present in our home. With many years and five children playing with him constantly, he was forever chipped and glued back together in a myriad of places.
In the spirit of stopping, resting, and listening when our hearts get too busy, here are is a lovely prayer to cover you, your family, and all those who cross your path.
May the beauty of this true, good and beautiful prayer provide rest and gratitude for your heart.
The Prayer of St. Francis
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;
and 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.
Amen.
If you'd like to listen to an audio of this prayer, here is a favorite reader of this prayer, Emily P. Freeman.
So good, Cara. Counting you as I count my thanks-givings.