Senior Sunrise

Morning Prayer

I adore you, O my God , and I love you with my whole heart.  I thank you for having created me, and preserved me during the night past.  I offer you all my actions of the day; grant that they may be done according to your holy will and for your greater glory.  Keep me from sin and from every evil.  May your grace be always with me and with all those who are dear to me. Amen

Evening Prayer

I adore you, O my God and I love you with my whole heart.  I thank you for having created me, and preserved me during the day past.  Pardon me the evil I have domne this day, and if I have performed any good action, deign to accept it.  Watch over me during my repose and free me for all dangers.  May your grace be always with me and with all those who are dear to me. Amen

An Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man, died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all your truths, because You have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

An Act of Hope

O my God, relieving on your infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the helps of your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and redeemer.

An Act of Love

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul.  I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.  I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and oppressed. Preserve my life, for I am loyal; save your servant who trusts in you.   Listen, Lord, and answer me.

                                Listen, Lord, and answer me.

You are my God; pity me, Lord; to you I call all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant to you, Lord, I lift up my soul.        Listen, Lord and answer me.

Lord, you are kind and forgiving, most loving to all who call on you. Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my cry for help.             Listen, Lord and answer me.

Teach me, Lord, your way that I may walk in your truth, single-hearted and revering your name.

                                Listen, Lord and answer me.

I will praise you will all my heart, glorify your name forever, Lord my God. Your love for me is great; you have rescured me the the depths.

                                Listen, Lord and answer me.

So I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated’.

‘Oh, you’re such a good boy’, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’

‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice’.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.  It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked, reaching into her purse.

‘Nothing,’ I said

‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.

‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said.

‘Thank you.’

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People  may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.  (unknown)

I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From where will by help come?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. God will not allow your foot to slip; your guardian does not sleep;

Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.  The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.  By day the sun cannot harm you, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will guard you from all evil will always guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and going both now and forever.

A  wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of  art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to  Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the  great works of  art.

When  the  Vietnam conflict  broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous  and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The  father was notified and grieved deeply for his only  son.

About  a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock  at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large  package in his hands.

He  said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for  whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that  day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet  struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often  talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man  held out this package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not  really a great artist, but I think your son would have  wanted you to have this.”

The  father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son,  painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way  the soldier had captured the personality of his son in  the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that  his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young  man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir,  I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The  father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time  visitors came to his home he took them to see the  portrait of his son before he showed them any of the  other great works he had collected.

The  man died a few months later. There was to be a great  auction of his paintings Many influential people  gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and  having an opportunity to purchase one for their  collection.

On  the platform sat the painting of the son The auctioneer  pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this  picture of the son. Who will bid for this  picture?”

There  was silence.

Then  a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see  the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

But  the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this  painting. Who will start the bidding? $100,  $200?”

Another  voice angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We  came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandt’s. Get on with  the real bids!”

But  still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son!  Who’ll take the son?”

Finally,  a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the  longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10  for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could  afford.

“We  have $10, who will bid $20?”

“Give  it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.”

“$10  is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?”

The  crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture  of the son.

They  wanted the more worthy investments for their  collections.

The  auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD  for $10!”

A  man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on  with the collection!”

The  auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction  is over.”

“What  about the paintings?”

“I  am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I  was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not  allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only  the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever  bought that painting would inherit the entire estate,  including the paintings.

The  man who took the son gets everything!”

God  gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much  like the auctioneer, His message today is: “The son, the  son, who’ll take the son?”

Because,  you see, whoever takes the Son gets  everything.

                                         Author Unknown

FOR  GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,  WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE….THAT’S  LOVE.

God of mercy, look kindly on your servant who has grown weak under the burden of years.

I ask for healing in body and soul. Fill me with the strength of your Holy Spirit.

Keep me firm in faith and serene in hope, so that I  may give  all an example of patience and joyfully witness to the power of your love.

In your name O Lord, I pray.      Amen

Source: Pastoral Care of the Sick

This simple Take Time prayer was found in my Dad’s wallet upon his passing.  He lived by it.

Take time to THINK…It is the source of power.

Take time to PLAY…It is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to READ…It is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to PRAY…It is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED…It is a God-given privilege

Take time to BE FRIENDLY…It is the road to happiness.

Take time to LAUGH…It is the music of the soul.

Take time to GIVE…It is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to WORK…it is the price of success.

Take time to DO CHARITY… It is the key to heaven.

Author Unknown