The Serenity Prayer has been around since the 1930s and it contains a great mantra to live by. The message is quite simple and is essentially a prayer for tolerance, courage and wisdom. However, it is also much more than that. If we sat down and gave the words some thought, we would realize that it has a lot of thought-provoking depth and can easily be applied to every facet of our lives. It teaches us to be resolute in our beliefs, and be prepared to stand up and make a difference when needed. It reminds us that some things are not meant to be and we should appreciate them for what they are. But most importantly, it encourages us to recognize when we should go with the current and when we should fight against the tide. When we are in the middle of the action or when there is conflict involved, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture. Such are the moments when we most need the clarity espoused in this prayer.

Serenity
Lord, please grant us serenity,
in order to accept,
the things we simply cannot change,
the promises not kept.

For with each new day life will bring,
new challenges for us,
and often beyond our control,
we’re told we must adjust.

It’s truly a dynamic world,
where all things can occur,
but welcomed, not all changes are,
we like things how they were.

Or sometimes it is the reverse,
where things are tired and old,
but people are just too afraid,
to fight and break the mold.

So in those times, grant us the strength,
to change the things we can,
and never let impediments,
deter what we began.

For often we can get bogged down,
when complications rise,
and we are waylaid from our goals,
ensuring their demise.

But with a little courage, faith,
we all can see it through,
and know that we can realize,
whatever we pursue.

Yet more importantly we need,
the wisdom so to judge,
if it’s a mountain we can move,
or will it never budge.

For if, the difference, we can’t tell,
then it’s our time, we’ll waste,
and vain and futile, our attempts,
our efforts be misplaced.

A little patience, spare us please,
in dealing with these trials,
and with vexatious people who,
intend to irk and rile.

And silence this, our inner voice,
that urges us to kill,
or else we’ll never hope to gain,
serenity until…