ONE

God,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

The courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Some days serenity or peace comes easily. Others, like this morning, it was hard to find. It’s amazing how quickly one little nuisance thing can set me off if I’m not in a good space mentally or spiritually.

Some days the wisdom to see the difference comes quickly. Other days it takes me a while to wake up and recognize that which I have no control or power over. 

That middle one though, some days, most days, that’s the hardest. I often find myself knowing what it is that I can do, even need to do, but I lack the courage or sometimes the willingness to do it. I know myself well enough to know that sometimes it’s just the rebel in me that wants to say, “No. I don’t want to.” I can picture myself pulling on boots and a leather jacket and kick stomping out the door. I also recognize sometimes it’s simply fear. Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of the unknown outcome. When I recognize that, that’s when I have to say the prayer again. Sometimes I have to pray for the willingness to be willing. I also have to remind myself that courage is just fear that has said its prayers.

I hope today that I have all those things; serenity, courage, and wisdom. I pray that as I need them they come quickly to the forefront of my mind and help me to move as smoothly as possible through my day.