Serenity

Hey,

For those of you who usually check my blog earlier on Mondays, I apologize for my tardiness.

This week has been truly wonderful.  I made some new friends, enjoyed myself out and about, and started my second job working with the kids.  It always fascinates me, which things affect us in ways we’d never anticipate; how a seemingly meaningless moment is the key to everything that comes afterwards.  I sometimes wonder at the love and care that our Lord has for each of us.  How He, while still allowing others their agency, puts just the right moment in our path to give power to us in our desperate moments of need.

At work there are a couple of the kids who do not speak any English, only Spanish.  The girl I work with is fluent in Spanish and I could leave it up to her to communicate with them and give them instructions, but that is not in my nature.  While I was in Brazil it was very obvious that often children are drawn to me and so one of the jokes that I shared with people is “I may not speak Portuguese, but I can speak child.”  That would set members and investigators at ease knowing that this really big guy who didn’t talk much had a soft spot for their children and would take the time to use hand gestures and broken Portuguese to make their kids laugh.  Anyway, at work I use my Portuguese when talking to these kids and they speak to me in Spanish.  I don’t understand everything they say and they definitely don’t get everything I say, but they understand enough.  He sees my efforts and appreciates them.  About half of the kids speak Spanish so they are all working together to help me improve.  It is an absolutely beautiful thing.

For the quote of the week I have a friend who is having a really rough week and so I shared with her “The Serenity Prayer” by Reinhold Niebuhr.  He was inspired to say

 “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.”

I know that this is an inspired message.  This has provided me with peace and a sense of love in my life.  I thank the Lord every day for my many blessings.

Peace be the journey,

Drew