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;
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.

I believe The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis is one of the most humble prayers ever written.  I love saying the prayer and I love hearing the prayer in song.  For as long as I can remember, I have known this prayer.  When I was young, I would recite it.  But as I learned to say prayers with understanding and conviction, I realized this prayer’s perfection.

The very first line – Lord make me and instrument of your peace – is an awesome request.  It says, Lord, use me –  I am choosing to do your work.   The prayer does not ask for something for myself – only help to give of myself.  Quite different from other prayers.

The second part of the prayer is also a request.  It basically says – Lord, help me put others first.   Even though I may need to be consoled, understood, and loved – help me not to seek it for myself.  Help me give it to others.  The prayer seeks strength to be a giver!

The next part of the prayer explains a universal truth.  When we give, we receive.  Our peace and bounty comes only when we give!  To get God’s peace, we must give it away.  To receive forgiveness, we must forgive.  Our happiness depends on how much we give!

Finally, the prayer ends with the ultimate truth.  When we die, we live!  The body dies, the soul lives on.  There is great reward when we give our last breath!

This prayer is asking for the strength to be like Jesus.  Jesus was a peacemaker.  Jesus gave to others.  Jesus died and was born again.  Saint Francis lived this prayer.  I want to live this prayer.

What a pearl.