On a National Public Radio program, not too long ago, I had the privilege of listening to an interview with Ms. Elizabeth Sifton, the author of the book, "The Serenity Prayer: Faith in Times of Peace and War." Ms. Sifton is the daughter of Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971), who wrote the "Serenity Prayer". In her interview, Ms. Sifton confirmed that her father decided not to copyright the Serenity Prayer.
"My father," his daughter said, "wanted the prayer to be available for people to use freely, for their own needs, or to encourage others."
According to Google: "Reinhold Niebuhr was born in Wright City, Missouri, on June 21, 1892. He was the son of a pastor, Gustav, in the Evangelical and Reformed Church, and as his father, entered the ministry."
The abridged version of the prayer, as printed below, is more well known. The prayer is said to have been helpful in the lives of many people.
God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
*******
About Me
- marylee m armour
- Central NY, United States
- I was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. At age 41, I enrolled at Syracuse University and in 1973 received a dual degree in Education and in Family Studies. In 1981 I was awarded my Master's Degree in Family Studies from the same university. I live in Central New York and am never far from my computer. A retired hunting beagle named Sammy helps keep me grounded, although he thinks I spend too much time at the keyboard. Always a lover of words, I enjoy writing to others interested in the Adirondacks, nature, and spirituality.
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