Here is the prayer for a grandparent I quoted in the sermon last Sunday. I don’t know who the author is —
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am getting older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.
Keep my mind from the recital of endless details – give me the wings to come to the point. I ask for grace enough to listen to the details of other’s pains. Help me to endure them with patience. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and the talents in unexpected people. And give me the grace to tell them so.
Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but thou knowest, Lord, that I still want to have a few friends at the end.