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remain worthy of their love。 For Christ's sake； let not our beloved blush
for us； nor we for them。 Grant us but that； and grant us courage to endure
lesser ills unshaken； and to accept death； loss； and disappointment as it
were straws upon the tide of life。
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Prayers Written At Vailima
FOR THE FAMILY
AID us； if it be thy will； in our concerns。 Have mercy on this land and
innocent people。 Help them who this day contend in disappointment with
their frailties。 Bless our family； bless our forest house； bless our island
helpers。 Thou who hast made for us this place of ease and hope； accept
and inflame our gratitude； help us to repay； in service one to another； the
debt of thine unmerited benefits and mercies； so that； when the period of
our stewardship draws to a conclusion； when the windows begin to be
darkened； when the bond of the family is to be loosed； there shall be no
bitterness of remorse in our farewells。
Help us to look back on the long way that Thou hast brought us； on the
long days in which we have been served； not according to our deserts； but
our desires； on the pit and the miry clay； the blackness of despair； the
horror of misconduct； from which our feet have been plucked out。 For our
sins forgiven or prevented； for our shame unpublished； we bless and thank
Thee； O God。 Help us yet again and ever。 So order events； so strengthen
our frailty； as that day by day we shall come before Thee with this song of
gratitude； and in the end we be dismissed with honour。 In their weakness
and their fear； the vessels of thy handiwork so pray to Thee； so praise Thee。
Amen。
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Prayers Written At Vailima
SUNDAY
WE beseech Thee； Lord； to behold us with favour； folk of many
families and nations gathered together in the peace of this roof； weak men
and women subsisting under the covert of thy patience。 Be patient still；
suffer us yet awhile longer； … with our broken purposes of good； with our
idle endeavours against evil； suffer us awhile longer to endure； and （if it
may be） help us to do better。 Bless to us our extraordinary mercies； if the
day come when these must be taken； brace us to play the man under
affliction。 Be with our friends； be with ourselves。 Go with each of us to
rest； if any awake； temper to them the dark hours of watching； and when
the day returns； return to us； our sun and comforter； and call us up with
morning faces and with morning hearts … eager to labour … eager to be
happy； if happiness shall be our portion … and if the day be marked for
sorrow； strong to endure it。
We thank Thee and praise Thee； and in the words of him to whom this
day is sacred； close our oblation。
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Prayers Written At Vailima
FOR SELF…BLAME
LORD； enlighten us to see the beam that is in our own eye； and blind
us to the mote that is in our brother's。 Let us feel our offences with our
hands； make them great and bright before us like the sun； make us eat
them and drink them for our diet。 Blind us to the offences of our beloved；
cleanse them from our memories； take them out of our mouths for ever。
Let all here before Thee carry and measure with the false balances of love；
and be in their own eyes and in all conjunctures the most guilty。 Help us at
the same time with the grace of courage； that we be none of us cast down
when we sit lamenting amid the ruins of our happiness or our integrity：
touch us with fire from the altar； that we may be up and doing to rebuild
our city： in the name and by the method of him in whose words of prayer
we now conclude。
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Prayers Written At Vailima
FOR SELF…FORGETFULNESS
LORD； the creatures of thy hand； thy disinherited children； come
before Thee with their incoherent wishes and regrets： Children we are；
children we shall be； till our mother the earth hath fed upon our bones。
Accept us； correct us； guide us； thy guilty innocents。 Dry our vain tears；
wipe out our vain resentments； help our yet vainer efforts。 If there be any
here； sulking as children will； deal with and enlighten him。 Make it day
about that person； so that he shall see himself and be ashamed。 Make it
heaven about him； Lord； by the only way to heaven； forgetfulness of self；
and make it day about his neighbours； so that they shall help； not hinder
him。
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Prayers Written At Vailima
FOR RENEWAL OF JOY
WE are evil； O God； and help us to see it and amend。 We are good； and
help us to be better。 Look down upon thy servants with a patient eye； even
as Thou sendest sun and rain； look down； call upon the dry bones； quicken；
enliven； recreate in us the soul of service； the spirit of peace； renew in us
the sense of joy。
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