Day 76: Let It Be

What do you pray for? Love? Guidance? A specific result? Do you pray at all? 

When I was little, I prayed diligently....usually in a "tit for tat" fashion.

"God, If you just get me out of this," I would cry.  "I promise I will never do x, y, z again."   

Sound familiar??

Lately, however, my prayers have taken a new tone...

I first noticed the change on my birthday in October.  Feeling sick, I spent the evening with girlfriends who were nice enough to buy me a cake, make dinner, and chat.  "God, I know you have a purpose for everything," I silently prayed as I blew out the candles.  "Use me and use my life to make a difference."

Then, while driving to the doctor's office yesterday, I noticed it again. Rather than bargaining with God, I carefully weighed what to ask for.  Healing? Peace? Courage?  Suddenly, an unfamiliar thought entered my mind. "ACCEPTANCE,"  I heard myself whisper.  "Ask for acceptance."

According to Dictionary.com, to accept is to:

-take or receive something offered with approval or favor

-agree or consent 

-respond or answer affirmatively

-undertake the responsibility, duties, honors, etc., of

-accommodate or reconcile oneself to

-regard as true or sound; believe

-regard as normal, suitable, or usual

-receive as to meaning; understand

-receive without adverse reaction

To me, acceptance is the opportunity to stop resisting.  There is a beauty in acceptance – a peace in it.

So, with heart in hand, tonight I pray:

God, grant me acceptance for what I cannot control.  Help me learn from it, find the beauty in it, and use it to help others.  God, instead of struggling, remind me to Let it Be.

Altered Today: Conversations with God