Keep us, oh God, from pettiness;
Let us be large in thought, in word,
in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and
leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet
each other face to face, without
self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgement and
always generous.
Let us take time for all things; make us
to grow calm, serene, gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better
impulses, straight forward and
unafraid.
Grant that we may realize it is the little
things that create differences, that in
the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know
the great, common human heart of us
all.
And oh Lord, God, let us forget not to be kind!
~Mary Stewart (April 1904)