My falls tend to fall well in the crazy category.  Just a lot going on making life super hectic. Like everyone else, it can begin to truly weigh heavy on my shoulders. While I try to muddle my way through, sometimes it is just really hard.

Also, like anyone else, I experience plenty enough trials in my life to make me want to tear my hair out. Sometimes trials come from my own choices, but several are things completely out of my control.  Honestly? I couldn’t tell you which is worse.

Dealing with one of those out of my control things right now, mixed with my crazy fall, I just felt the need to try something to help me relax. I felt the stress ramping up and I needed a way to not end up going mad.

At a moment of sheer desperation, I mentally shouted at myself, “SERENITY, NOW!” Not so simple a request, but a desire I know we all share from time to time. It was in that moment the Serenity Prayer popped into my head. I decided to spend the next week or so reading the Serenity Prayer each day. Maybe it would help as a gentle reminder to me and help me to relax.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.–Reinhold Niebuhr

I must say, the Serenity Prayer is EXACTLY what I needed. I tend to get a little crazy in my head trying to control things. When life gets harder, I tighten that grip. Which translates to me going nuts if the floor isn’t vaccummed, the dishes aren’t done, something goes wrong with dinner, and any other little and ridiculous thing you can come up with to throw my way.

I cannot change the world to meet my standards of perfection. I also cannot change the trials in my life brought about by outside influences. I need to learn to “Let go and let God.” I need to slow down.

A wise man recently said, “If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.” He didn’t use my name, but he might as well have because I know I needed desperately to hear that very message.

My life has not gotten any easier. The trials are still there and showing no sign of ever going away. I still have a thousand things on my plate to accomplish each day and not enough hours to complete them all.  Insomnia is still my constant companion. I have plenty of room for improvement still to go to become a better me.

I don’t know that my life will ever resemble any definition of “serene”, but I can say that attempting to focus my thoughts towards the things mentioned in the Serenity Prayer over a week’s time HAS helped.  I do feel a little calmer and a whole lot saner.

Sometimes it is all about the attitude and how you react. Reminding myself of the wise council held in the Serenity Prayer definitely helped me change my attitude and refocus my reactions.

I am glad that I spent some time with the Serenity Prayer. To be honest, I only meant for it to be a week long project. However, I was a little busy last week so didn’t have time to post. I kept reading it all last week as well. I think I’ll try to read it some more this week. It will go right in with my “Make my home a haven”, don’t you think?

–Lady O