serenity – Woodsmoke and Cardamom

A Good Example

by Lucy M. Young

Lord, help me live according to Your plan.
Teach me to love my neighbor as myself.
Help me to judge not, lest I, too, be judged;
And give me strength to turn the other cheek.

Help me forget about tomorrow's woe,
Remembering only what today may bring;
And if perchance some sorrow may befall,
Help me to hide it well behind a smile.

When trouble comes may I remain serene,
And, trusting in Your power to cure all ills,
Walk calmly through the day with perfect faith
That all things sent by You are right and good.

Lord, help me to be to all a good example
Of what Your perfect love may do for them;
And let Your light so shine through me that others
May follow You with faith and joy and love.

God Grant Me Patience

by Lucy M. Young

God, grant me patience
Throughout the days and nights
Of waiting for my broken bone to heal.
Relieve the inner turmoil,
The frustration with the awkwardness
Of struggling with these infernal crutches.

God, grant me patience
With those around me who can't understand
Why I must rest so often.
Slow me down and keep me walking
When I want so much to run.

God grant me serenity, tranquility;
Relieve my feverish anxiety.
Speak quietly to me and calm my jangled nerves.
I know that I must crawl before I walk,
And walk before I run,
But oh, it is so difficult to wait;
So please, Lord, grant me patience yet awhile

The Garden

Lucy M. Young

I went to the garden this morning
when the sky was rosy with dawn
Peace and serenity reigned supreme,
the shadows of night were all gone.

The birds were raising their happy songs
in joyous praise of the day;
A breeze brought the fragrance of flowers to me
from the meadow across the way.

I admired my neat row of vegetables
in their dew-spangled shades of green;
Awed by the fact that a few tiny seeds
could produce this exotic scene.

I agree with the person far wiser than I
Who cast pearls of wisdom abroad -
There is no place on earth like the garden at dawn
to make one feel closer to God.