Most of you are probably familiar with this prayer, but you likely do not know much about it. According to this wiki article, "The Serenity Prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s or early 1940s."
The wiki article goes on to state that the simple, one-sentence version, is the original:
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference."
These eloquent words have helped so many people through so much... it makes me wonder if the author had any idea of the power behind those words and how far they would go. I mean, I'm sure that he knew God is powerful. I'm not sure he knew those words would become such a mantra to so many.
It seems that there is some argument as to whether Reinhold Niebuhr actually authored these words or not. Perhaps he is simply the first to have written them down. Perhaps they were written in ancient times past, but the documents were destroyed by age, fire, flood or any number of other calamities.
The idea seems ageless. As if this prayer were passed down from time immemorial. So it's hardly surprising people want to believe it is.
This site alleges that Reinhold Niebuhr DID write the longer version that the wiki article casts doubt upon. Perhaps we need to read the book his daughter (Elisabeth Sifton) wrote to really understand the whole thing. If anyone has read this book, please share!
In the meantime... what do YOU think? Who wrote it? Does it matter who wrote it? Has this prayer helped you in your life? I know it has provided comfort in mine - many times.
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Comments: 32
I have no idea about the controversy.
this is a nice site about a prayer in a few pictures, it is worth taking the time to see it,
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Thanks for sharing your link, Anne!
: )
To avoid the copyright aspect, Lydia, just change an insignificant word or two. Most will never know the difference, and the impact of reading it on Gather is well worth it -- if it saves only one person's life......
I find peace in this prayer and am able to deal with situations out of my control gracefully.
I think you misunderstood me about the clickable links: everyone's names in their own comments are clickable. In the last comment I wrote, I plugged Larry and his book and both his name and the name of the book ARE clickable links, but you can not tell that by LOOKING at them!
Links I made subsequently today, in other comments, were normal.
"Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom, to understand my man. Love, to forgive him, and patience for his moods. Because, Lord, if I pray for strength I'll just beat him to death."
it (the prayer) has saved my ass a time or two... and others as well.