Old Timers Prayer

[bluidkiti]

OLD TIMER'S PRAYER
Lord, keep me from the habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details - give me wings to get to the point. I ask for the grace to listen to the tales of others pains. Help me to endure them in patience. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains - they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be 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. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. 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 in the end.

[bluidkiti]

AA Old-timer's Prayer

God, keep me from the habit of thinking that I must volunteer in every
meeting no matter what the topic. Keep my mind free from the recital of
endless details and give me wings to get to the point. Remind me to guard
confidences and to keep still when I feel that it is necessary to share
information "just for some one's own good." Release me from the need to
straighten out everybody else's thinking and program.
God, I ask for the grace to listen to newcomers. Please help me to
remember
the patience with which others listened to me when I was new. Please seal
my lips to giving advice, and help me to remember to share my experience,
strength, and hope. Remind me that my purpose is to fit myself to be of
maximum service to You and the people around me.
Help me to remain teachable, God. Teach me (again!) the lesson that,
occasionally, it is possible that I may be wrong and remind me of the
freedom that I gain when I am able to promptly admit it and make amends
where necessary. Help me to remember the difference between making amends
and saying I'm sorry.
Help me to be a worker among workers, a friend among friends, and a
drunk
among drunks. Keep me from being a bleeding deacon, God, and help me to
walk the path towards being an elder statesman. Keep me ever mindful that I
cannot manage my own life. I don't want to be a saint, God, show me the way
to seek you so that I may continue to grow along spiritual lines.
Remind me to put Rule 62 into practice in my life. It is so easy to
take
myself too seriously.
Keep me free of gossip, character assassination, and judgment. Remind me
that although I have humbly asked, my character defects and shortcomings
arise when I least expect them. Help me to walk with serendipity, to see
good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give
me the grace to tell them so. Help me to see that You love each of Your
children, and that You do not need my opinion of them or suggestions on what
they might deserve.
Help me to be willing to accept Your answer to my prayers, whether or
not it
is the answer that I thought I wanted. You know that I have trouble with
acceptance sometimes, God, so there are times when You will need to help me
to be willing to be willing. Show me how to walk through life with grace,
dignity, and my head held high, carrying Your message and practicing these
principles in all my affairs.
And God, thank You for the people that You have put in my life. My
family,
of origin, and of AA. My sponsor, my sponsees, my sister sponsees, the
people of my home group, the women who first reached out their hands to
welcome me to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I know today, God,
that I could not have walked these steps to get from where I was when I
walked in the door to the woman that I am today, if it were not for the
blessings You have given me through Your precious children.
Thanks, God!
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