Jolie Rouge
09-10-2003, 12:41 PM
Heavenly Father, Help us remember
that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night
is a single mother who worked nine hours that day
and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework,
do the laundry and spend a few precious moments
with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested
young man who can't make change correctly
is a worried 19-year-old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear
of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum,
begging for money in the same spot every day
(who really ought to get a job!)
is a slave to addictions
that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking
annoyingly slow through the store aisles
and blocking our shopping progress
are savoring this moment, knowing that,
based on the biopsy report she got back last week,
this will be the last year that they go shopping
together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that,
of all the gifts you give us,
the greatest gift is love.
It is not enough to share that love
with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts
not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge
and quick to forgive,
show patience, empathy and love.
that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night
is a single mother who worked nine hours that day
and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework,
do the laundry and spend a few precious moments
with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested
young man who can't make change correctly
is a worried 19-year-old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear
of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum,
begging for money in the same spot every day
(who really ought to get a job!)
is a slave to addictions
that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking
annoyingly slow through the store aisles
and blocking our shopping progress
are savoring this moment, knowing that,
based on the biopsy report she got back last week,
this will be the last year that they go shopping
together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that,
of all the gifts you give us,
the greatest gift is love.
It is not enough to share that love
with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts
not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge
and quick to forgive,
show patience, empathy and love.