Character and Conduct – 30 December – A Prayer

Be patient still;  suffer us yet a while longer;  with our broken purposes of good, with our idle endeavours against evil, suffer us a while longer to endure, and (if it may be) help us to do better.   Bless to us our extraordinary mercies;  if the day come when these must be taken, brace us to play the man under affliction.   Be with our friends;  be with ourselves.   Go with each of us to rest;  if any dream, be their dreams quiet;  if any awake, temper to them the dark hours of watching;  and when the day returns, return to us our sun and comforter, and call us up with morning faces and with morning hearts – eager to labour – eager to be happy, if happiness shall be our portion – and if the day be marked for sorrow, strong to endure it.

Vailima Prayers, R. L. STEVENSON

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing them here is that readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.