Teach me, to be sweet and gentle, in all the events of life
--in the disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in
the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of
those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside. To think of the happiness of in the unfaithfulness of
others, to hide my little pains and heartaches, so that I may be
the only one to suffer from them. Teach me to profit by the
suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it
may mellow me, not harden or embitter me: That it may make me
patient, not irritable, that it may make me broad in my
forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence.
No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having
been a fellow-traveler in our journey towards learning love.

As I go my rounds from one distraction to another -- let me
whisper from time-to-time, a word of love to you. May my love be
Iived in the super-natural, full of power for good, and strong
its purpose of sancity.

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Artwork by Michigan PrisonersPoetry & Prose by Michigan Prisoners