Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
When I think of this prayer I think of Katie and other special people like her. As her friend or loved one you were the recipient of the kind of compassion described by St. Francis. The line "For it is in giving that we receive" particularly makes me think of Katie. She gave endlessly to those she loved and nothing brought her more joy than making someone happy. I know I was on the receiving end of her understanding, consolation, love, light, and hope more times than I can ever possibly count. For me, and I'm sure for many others, Katie was an instrument of God's peace. Always there, always helping, always caring, always making things better. How blessed we all were to have known and loved her, and to be known and loved by her. -Kay
