Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace

A few months ago, my talented sister-in-law, Elizabeth, created two calligraphy pieces for our home. The first is of Psalm 1, one of Billy's favorite scriptures.

The second piece is the "prayer of Assisi" which says:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

I love this prayer, and want to be the kind of person who matches these ideals. Yet when I begin to pray, I can't get past the first line: Lord, make me an instrument of peace. In my home, in my church, in my friendships, in my extended family...I desire to be at peace--and to be one who imparts peace and love. I may never make it on to the second line of the prayer (especially when the weariness of caring for little kids gets the best of me)...but I will keep praying. What a blessing that it is God who does the changing, if I will just be changeable!