Winning Words 11/30/10
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” (Reinhold Niebuhr) This AA Serenity Prayer was quoted by Dear Abby in advice to someone who wanted to know how to handle a Thanksgiving conflict when relatives get together. It’s not always a smooth ride to grandmother’s house. ;-) Jack

FROM RI IN BOSTON: That closing comment is so true. It's very easy to picture visits to grandmother's house the way Anna Mary Robertson Moses painted them years ago. In reality family get-togethers often become tense situations when people won't "let sleeping dogs lie." This recent Thanksgiving we witnessed such conflict. Too often we want change in others when we should consider changing ourselves. (I plead guilty.) FROM JACK: Once in a while Dear Abby gives some pretty good advice...as in this case.

FROM PRJS IN MICHIGAN: My favorite theologian political scientist. He had the insight to see things were tinged with original sin. We seem to have forgotten that in recent times. FROM JACK: Niebuhr's theological concept, "Utopianism is useless in dealing with reality," certainly seems to fit with today's message.

FROM JLF IN MICHIGAN: I remember that quote! FROM JACK: It's good to remember things; it's even better when we can adapt them to our life.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Our Pastor just spent 3 weeks with us in Bible study exploring the first 3 steps of the AA 12-step program. We all decided each of us has some sort of addiction or compulsion and need to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. We understood Romans 7:10-20 more after all of our discussion and we realized issues of trying to control things better, in families and churches, every institution people can fight over who's in control when it ought to be first and foremost God. But easier said than done. Thanks for your WW--they are very timely again. FROM JACK: Sometimes we act more like the "Pharisee" than like the "publican." I remember this biblical verse: "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

FROM MOLINER AE: Wisdom comes from you daily with our thanksgiving. I hope recipients check your Blog, to find Gems so priceless. FROM JACK: I don't know if they're "priceless," but I like to think that they're worth something. WWs is meant to elicit responses from the readers...either written, or simply to get the mind to think about the quote and what it means to them. MORE FROM AE: I read every one and to me they're beyond any price, they are Gems, you know like Diamonds, Rubys, and Collector items that everyone keeps and displays to only the ones who are interested. That's what Swedes call priceless.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: I guess it depends on the grandma! It's a smooth ride here! The Serenity Prayer has been a favorite of ours for years and years. It's good to see it in your Winning Words as it is a great reminder of what we can and should do. FROM JACK: I have a book of contemporary prayers, one of which tells of being in bumper to bumper traffic and praying to God for an open and a smooth road. It ends with the words, "Jesus, thanks for sweating it out with me out here on this highway." Let's be thankful for the smooth roads, and let's be empathetic for those must travel the roads that aren't so nice.

FROM MOLINER CF: I think this one is a "keeper." FROM JACK: Thanks to the computer's memory, there are many keepers...some are better than others. Occasionally, when I have nothing better to do, I go back and reread some of them. For example: Jack’s Winning Words 1/7/09 “Life is like a trumpet. If you don’t put anything into it, you don’t get anything out of it.” (W. C. Handy) Handy knew life, the trumpet and music. You get out of it what you put into it. He bought his first horn when he was a teenager. At one time, he was director of The Alabama Agriculture & Mechanical College Band. He wrote Yellow Dog Blues, Beale Street Blues and the famous St. Louis Blues. Louis Armstrong, Elvis, Pearl Bailey, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald and many other greats put life into his music. He’s even mentioned in the movie, The Music Man. Re-read today’s quote. ;-) Jack

FROM PRPH IN MINNESOTA: and did you know there is more to the prayer than just this? i can't quote it right now but i do know there is more than just these memorable lines... FROM JACK: Thanks for the reminder.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next. Amen."

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: Our family has always marveled at how well we all get along, and what great fun we have playing games, etc. when we all gather. We are so fortunate!! One of Jan's girls married a Jewish (not practicing, really) Doctor, whose family were constantly at odds: this one not speaking to that one, hurt feelings, etc. Debbie said it was like walking on eggshells when they were together with his family. This old saying has served many well! FROM JACK: Another reason to be thankful. I think it was Jimmy Durante who used to say: "I gotta million of 'em."

FROM JT IN MINNESOTA: I use this prayer each time we conclude our support group. I run a support group for caregivers of persons with dementia. FROM JACK: That support group program sounds like something very worthwhile. Ministry is not only done by pastors.

FROM AM IN MICHIGAN: I know I am rich. The young grandchildren talk about rich and I tell them we are rich - family and friends. How blessed we are. Kids are not so interested but we all know we are rich when we have our health or enough to get up each day. FROM JACK: ...and you have shared your riches through the years. This world is a better place because of what you have done.