Kindness
Patience
Humility
(Removing the kettle from the fire) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Courage as one opens the mail
A prayer of blessing while folding the laundry
And starting the car
Hope at every hour of the day <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An eye for justice
(The dog strains at the leash)
A hand for charity
(Pulling a carton of orange juice from the shelf) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Evenness, balance, what they call \u201cequanimity.\u201d
As stress arises, and anger
As fatigue consumes the afternoon
As guilt and regret annoy the evening <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isn\u2019t it after all just us
awkward animals struggling along
with limbs not made to overcome the obstacles
that upset us? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take pity
(A deep breath in)
Forgiveness, for me, for you.
Tenderness for this self so small <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This world so big
This life so short
This lesson so hard
This heart so soft<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"