Break in the story.....

I know I promised some interesting facts about the house in Apalachicola, but for today I want to take a slightly different trip down a whole nother rabbit trail.....

This is a prayer that my mother found in her father's Bible ...

My mother writes on the prayer......."found this in Papa's Bible 11-22-87, just when I needed it most.....Margaret. She would have been 64 years old... 8 years older than I am now.

A Prayer to Share

Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing older, and will someday be old. Keep me from getting talkative and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject, on every occasion. Release me from craving to try to straighten out every body's affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all but I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details. Give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips to my many aches and pains. They are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of other's pains. Help me to endure them with patience.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not wish to be a saint.....some of them are hard to live with.......but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Help me to extract all possible fun out of life. There are so many funny things around us, I don't want to miss any of them.

AMEN

I pray that I will benefit from this prayer of wisdom. Most days my mouth is wayyyyy out in front of my brain!