Why the tears
56
The Pain of Another
The pain of another is always greater than mine can be. I pray that I may understand rather than be understood. The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi teaches us such selflessness. Every illness of the spirit is founded in self-centeredness is the premise of this simple prayer. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace" , the prayer begins.
Let me sow the seeds of love wherever there is hatred.
Let me inspire by my example, pardon and forgiveness, wherever there is injury.
Let me share my faith in God's goodness and providence wherever there is doubt.
Let me share my hope for heaven's rewards wherever there is despair.
Let me bring light to all who live in darkness.
Let me be the bearer of joy to each soul that is in sadness.
Oh Master of all things Divine!
Let me not seek so much to be consoled by but rather, to console the grief and fears of others
Let me not seek to be understood, but to understand others.
Let me not so much seek to be loved, as to love others.
For it is in Giving that we receive.
For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
For it is in dying to our egos that we are born to an eternal life.
AMEN.
Why the Tears
Why the tears my beloved child?
Fears sha’nt daunt one on whom God smiled;
Flesh and bones are all I gave you
Not granite skin so I could save you;
ooOOoo
Shield not your self from evil’s harm
Offer your breast to hungry beast;
Yield not your soul to Satan’s charm
Suffer your woes with joy increased;
ooOOoo
Know that this Father’s Son is borne
Again in the Heavens from whence He came;
Endured the pain that Earth bestows
Blazing path strewn with crumbs – the Way.
ooOOoo
sligobay
© Copyright 2011 Gerry Gilligan - SligoBay with all rights reserved.
Joy through Service
So many souls suffer want from cradle to grave. Gratitude for the things by which we are blessed rather than longing for the things which we don't possess leads to serenity and happiness. It is unfortunate that our modern society is so materialistic. We are all inundated with advertising, marketing and a system of social values which promise comfort through things which can never satisfy our longings. Christian principles recommend abandoning all possessions and to rely upon the providence of God. The churches and other property acquired by organized religion, and wealth continuously sought by evangelicals, do not demonstrate the faith they espouse. Materialism undermines spirituality in our modern world.
Each day is an opportunity for service to others. We assign such a high value to our time that we are niggardly with it to our own detriment. To be generous with our time is the first step by which we can become more generous to others with the other gifts God has provided.
St. Francis of Assisi
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Thanks Larry. I couldn't write it if I didn't live it, but I fall short each day. I forgive myself for being human and then try to do better the next. Your kind words of encouragement are always appreciated.
Words of kind and loving wisdom, Gerry.
You are a dear and precious soul. Thank you for blessing us with your God given talent.
What a wonderful peice!! And a great reminder to be humble, grateful, and peacefully in service to others throughout our lives; to, by making other's lives better, improve our own spirit, making us fit for God.
Thanks Will for your kind and loving words. The Wisdom is God's and I am blessed to paraphrase His message.
Absolutely nothing shy of a gift for all lucky enough to read it
Thank you for reminding me to focus on others and step outside myself
god bless
bravo
kimberly
Poohgranma, thank you and may God bless you. Thank you for reminding me that I am a dear and precious soul. Let me remind you that you are a dear and precious soul and loved unconditionally by your Creator.
Had to come back and really say bravo
by the grace of god
i am so blessed
ODAAT
KOH
Thanks Paradise7 for your lovely and encouraging words. We do improve our own spirits through service to others and gratitude for our gifts from God.
Hello Kimberly and thank you for twice calling over to read the reworded prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. I changed the verbiage but hopefully not the meaning in order to avoid the dreaded duplicate content ban. It is unfortunate that Google and now Hub Pages punish the republication of the words and wisdom of the ages of mankind. Original content is just not as intellectually and spiritually valuable as 4000 years of wisdom. I trust that your new website will honor the past and encourage duplicate content for the gift that it is to humanity. Internet ignorance is bound to bring the new Dark Ages upon us.
Thank God that He forgives us for our shortcomings. Helping others is a great way to take our minds off ourselves! Thank you for the beautiful poems and bits of wisdom.
Welcome Susie Q forty two
Care for me as I care for you
The Hand of God is what we do
When we give ourselves,we ring true.
sligobay
Thanks for your visit and loving comment. g
Very beautiful Gerry. You have a sweet heart. God bless you.
Thanks Ruby. It takes a sweet heart to know a sweet heart. may God keep you in His embrace.
Thank you Gerry.
St.Francis' prayer is so inspirational. It's on my refrigerator door to remind me of those traits which define someone who seeks to actually follow the best example, rather than merely to "sound off".
I so agree that the materialism of our culture, which is especially reprehensible when practiced by those claiming to be there for the uplifting of the spirit, is a tragedy. But it needn't prevent any individual from reaching out to his or her own path and following it.
Well written. Well done, Gerry.
Voting it up and every applicable accolade!
Thank you Nellieanna my friend, for your visit and heartfelt words. Materialism is so contrary to spiritual principles and foments selfishness and greed by those who measure their self-worth by their wealth and possessions. It seems a shame but it is all part of God's plan. It's great to see you and I need to call over for a visit. Hugs.
Gerry , Who could be surprised to see this prayer from the lips of a gifted writer and thinker, I think that passion fills a huge part of Sligo Bay and when the tides of emotion move in and out of this bay, it does so with peace and serenity. thank you ! For the gifts that you give.:-}
Thank you ahorseback for the tides of emotion image. You are a true poet of considerable talent when both imagery and metaphor roll effortlessly from the deluge of your thoughts through the crests of your fingertips. Thank you for your high tides and lunar nuance.
Let me sow the seeds of love wherever there is hatred.
Let me inspire by my example, pardon and forgiveness, wherever there is injury.
thanks for the beautiful reminder
kimberly
Hi
I really have always loved the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, thanks for reminding me.
btw, have you done the contest of justice or revenge,?http://hubpages.com/hub/Which-is-better-Justice-or
This is a beautiful hub and thank you for sharing these words with us on here.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Thanks Kimberly, Blondey and Eiddwen for your visits and kind words. HP has unpublished one of my Hubs and I'm on strike until they rectify this. Sorry so brief.
Gerry, some of these verses could have been plucked directly from the Bible. You captured the passion and honesty of the good book in your own modern words. I really dig the essence of several of the verses; that it is better to give then to receive. In my humble opinion, that lesson is at the core of all the world's great religions.
Doug: These thoughts are not my own and are merely paraphrased elements of the prayer of St. Francis which I try to incorporate into my life but bear repeating but require original content. I am merely a mimic on this Hub. Thanks for your visit which is always welcome.
I see. Interesting read that inspires self-reflection, nonetheless. Peace.
Thanks Doug. Glad that you found your way back to HP. My own writing has been curtailed by business obligations which is a good thing. I write when I can. Cheers.
....only tears from me if you disappeared from my hub life forever ....
lake erie time 8:46pm
always blessed sincerely to have your company and poetic commentary at my humble little hubspace - you are truly a poet's poet and a gentleman whose hubs are like noble works of art ......
Sir Colin,
You shall shed no tears on my account
My words will stay where saints abound;
No finer knights could Arthur mount
On finer steeds; or to share table round.
sligobay
We share in the love of this prayer. I wrote about it in my hub, "Missing My Mother." She loved this prayer and lived by it. She taught us, her children to do the same. Such a beautiful, meaningful prayer that would make life wonderful if we all lived by it. Voted up!
Hello Dardia: Life is wonderful because I live by this prayer. Whether or not another ever does live by this prayer does not enhance or detract from my serving others. Sorry for the loss of your mother but you can view it as a gain for both her and heaven if you know my meaning. Thanks for an uplifting comment.
Hey Sligo-
I don't feel anyone could deny the truths you described. well done my friend
These are principles that if applied universally; whether christian or atheist, would and will change the dog eat dog mentality that has speared the hearts of the multitudes.
living properly becomes a threat to the cannibals- i have to believe we win in the end.
peace- greg
Thanks Greg for your visit and supportive comment. I win without having to beat anything or anyone. All the best all the time.
Beautiful expression!
Thanks msdee115, for your visit, comment and follow.
Thanks Kimberly for the great music link. Hugs.
Beautifully written! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Have a great day and God bless! :-)
Thanks for the visit and comment. Oh, thanks for the follow, too.
So beautiful, Gerry. We die to our ego to live in glory. Such deep faith and love that comes from a loving and gentle soul. God bless you, dear friend.
Thanks Phyllis for your visit, kind words and blessing.
maven101 Level 5 Commenter 11 months ago
Gerry...Beautiful prose that shows us your heroic heart...You are a keeper, my friend...Larry