The Return

Father, I think today about the simple things in life, and look forward to casting our cares, our worries, our concerns, and our anxieties on You (our all, our everything).  Life itself oh Lord, bears many complications, of which we are not exempt [excused, released, relieved, freed], from.  There might be a sniffle [whimper, cry, weep], as we suffer in our uneasiness [discomfort], or disquieted (lack of calm, peace, ease; anxiety, uneasiness), in our spirits. We can deprive [rob, deny, rid, strip], ourselves of the rights to calmness, composure, tranquility, serenity, the rights to peace, due to our on “failures-to-launch”, or stated differently, not receiving Your calling, to release our cares, our worries, concerns, anxieties upon You.

The vexations [displeasures, upsets, irritations], within our spirits, distractions [disruptions, disturbances, interferences], in our lives, or hindrances [obstacles, barriers, sabotages], can come directly from us sometimes, as we carry life challenges, nor knowing, nor realizing, or forgetting, opportunities to cast [throw, hurl, fling, chuck, pitch, toss], cares [worries, concerns, troubles, problems], about our pasts, presents, futures, cares about ourselves, family, friends, on You (“oh, what a relief it is”). Just thinking about it, begins to bring about a shifting, a lifting, a lightening.

PRAYER

Oh Lord, to be upset, distracted, hindered, are not the roads you’ve paved for us. Lead us our Father, to roads of quiet rest, serenity unmatched, and a peace defying all logic (surpassing understanding). Let our restorations [renovations, renewals, repairs, rebuilding], be strong, firm, and steadfast, because You love and truly care for us. Amen.

The original form of the adopted Serenity Prayer, attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr:

God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.