A Senior Citizen's Prayer

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Lord, Thou knowest that I am growing old.

Please keep me from becoming too talkative ---
and particularly keep me from falling into the tiresome habit
of expressing an opinion on every subject.

Release me from the craving
to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Give me grace, dear Lord, to listen to others
describe their aches and pains.
Help me to endure the boredom with patience,
and keep my lips sealed
because my own aches and pains
are increasing in number and intensity,
and the pleasure of discussing them
is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson
that occasionally I might be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet --- I do not wish to be a saint
for saints can be hard to live with ---
but a sour old person is definitely the devil's work.

Make me thoughtful but not moody;
helpful but not pushy;
independent, yet able to graciously
accept favors that others wish to bestow on me.

Free me of the notion that simply because
I have lived a long time
that I am wiser than those who
have not lived so long.

If I do not approve of some of the changes
which have taken place in recent years,
give me the wisdom to keep my mouth shut. . .
Lord knows that when the end comes,
I would like to have a friend or two left.

Author Unknown