I just noticed this on Elizabeth Foss's sidebar, and I am finding it particularly helpful today:
Decalogue for Daily Living
1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and it my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices.
8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.
Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
Bl. Pope John XXIII
1 comment:
That was wonderful. Baby steps are sometimes the best way to get through a life, right?
My husband showed me a prayer last year that I've become particularly fond of, along these same lines. It's from a book of prayers he was given when he completed RCIA.
Lord, for tomorrow and it's needs I do not pray; keep me my God, from stain of sin, just for today.
Let me both diligently work and duly pray; let me be kind in word and deed, just for today.
Let me be slow to do my will, prompt to obey; help me to mortify my flesh, just for today.
Let me no wrong or idle word unthinking say; set a seal upon my lips, just for today.
Let me in season, Lord, be grave, in season gay; let me be faithful to Your grace, just for today.
And if today my tide of life should ebb away, give me Your Sacraments divine, sweet Lord, today.
So for tomorrow and it's needs, I do not pray; but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord, just for today.
Sister M. Xavier, S.N.D.
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