Dad's Prayer

Ward Darron (1906-1994)

This prayer was found in a coat pocket of one of my dad's suits when I was cleaning out his house after his death. It was a carbon copy on onion skin paper. I do not know who typed it or why dad had it in his pocket. I have heard or read this prayer before and remember that it was part of an event that should be remembered.

Here is that prayer copied from the creased and somewhat wrinkled paper.

LORD thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day 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 everybody'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 thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

KEEP my mind free from the recital of endless details... give 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 others' 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 nor want to a saint... some of them are so 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 and I don't want miss any of them.

AMEN