St. Francis

The Prayer of Saint Francis

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh 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."

My friend Diana has this prayer posted on her blog today, and since this prayer of St. Francis is one my favorites too, I thought i would "borrow" it from her. Saint Francis of Assisi was a monk who had a deep love for animals and nature, something I have as well. But more than anything I think the beauty of this prayer is that it is simple in truth, yet rich in meaning. Sarah McLachlan made this prayer into a song and it is so beautiful. I hope that my life can always be an expression of this prayer... even though some days I fail miserably. Bad moods, bad feelings, bad attitudes. I wish I could be sweet and cheerful all the time, kind and giving and joyful. But life happens, and then what? Thank God for grace and that His mercy is new every morning. It's a journey, so i still have miles to go, and that ok too. Perfection is overrated anyway!