Holy Week and Easter are approaching rapidly, and it is a busy season for me. I start to get more anxious as I am triple-checking my plans and making sure I have everything in place that I need for worship. During these busy times, it is easy for me to become so focused on my to-do list that I forget to spend time with God. But in these busy times, it is more important than ever that we spend time with God, letting God calm our hearts and fill us with peace. One prayer that always helps me is the Serenity Prayer.

I first remember praying this prayer at my grandmother’s house. The prayer was cross-stitched and framed, and it hung beside the bed I slept in. For years, I wasn’t sure what serenity meant. But I like the prayer, and I tried to memorize a bit of it every time I visited. Now, this prayer has become an important part of my faith life, re-orienting me to God whenever I am anxious or stressed.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture of that cross-stitched prayer. I chose instead a picture that always calms my soul. So, may we pray:

“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. Amen.”

I’m sharing a picture that I took one year at the beach. There is something about seeing the sun rise over the ocean that reminds of me of this serenity prayer and calms my weary soul.