[nandm]

Day 4

Prayer of St. Francis

"Destiny is not a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited for; but, rather something to be achieved." William Jennings Bryant

Perhaps one of the best-known prayers in the world is that of St. Francis of Assisi. It is almost universal in its usage, for despite our own individual beliefs, few of us take issue with its message:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace,
that where there is hatred, let me sow love,
that where there is injury, I may bring pardon,
that where there is despair, I may bring hope,
that where there is error, I may bring truth,
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith,
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy,
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort
than to be comforted,
to understand, than to be understood,
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by giving that we recieve.
It is by forgiving that we are forgiven.
It is by dying that we awaken to eternal life.

Everything we have been striving to accomplish thus far in our program is epitomized in the prayer of St. Francis. Over the next few days, we will examine portions of this prayer to determine how it both reminds us of the steps we have already taken and furthers our recovery.

Today's Step: I pray earnestly to be an instrument of God's will.

Step by Step. Muriel Zink