These are two well read poems that I discovered in the back of a lady’s Bible whom recently passed away. They display the depth of God’s work in this great woman’s life.
PJ
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much
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.
God of Justice and Mercy,
Forgive me for averting my eyes from dumpsters
and failing to see that some of your children
see food where I see garbage.
Forgive me for avoiding urban alleys
and failing to see that some of your children
see shelter where I see danger.
Forgive me for turning away from those
who are hungry and homeless
and failing to see that you are present
in the pain and suffering of all your children.
May your justice break through my comfortable contentment.
May your mercy guide me beyond my selfish fears.
