"Lord, Thou knowest better than

I know myself that I am growing older,

and will someday be old.

"Keep me from getting talkative,

and particularly from the fatal habit of

thinking I must say something on

every occasion. 

"Release me from craving to try

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 grace enough to listen

to the tales of others pains. Help me

to endure them with 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.  

"Me 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,