What Children Live With

A child that lives with ridicule learns to be timid.

A child that lives with criticism learns to condemn.

A child that lives with distrust learns to be deceitful.

A child that lives with antagonism learns to be hostile.

A child that lives with affection learns to love.

A child that lives with encouragement learns confidence.

A child that lives with truth learns justice.

A child that lives with praise learns to appreciate.

A child that lives with sharing learns to be considerate.

A child that lives with knowledge learns wisdom.

A child that lives with patience learns to be tolerant.

A child that lives with happiness will find love and beauty.

-Ronald Russell

Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Gracious and merciful God, you call us from the complacency of our warm kitchens, noisy classrooms, comfortable homes and busy offices to the wilderness of radical obedience.  
You invite us to earnestly review our spiritual lives, especially our relationship with you. As we enter this season of sober reflection and quiet contemplation, grant us, we pray:

• Rigorous soul searching — without despair,


• Genuine humility — without self-disgust,


• Honest self-appraisal — without self-hatred,


• Personal scrutiny — without self-loathing,


• Contemplative solitude — without social isolation, and


• Quiet reflection — without turning aside from intimacy.

Do not, we pray, tempt us beyond our limits. Let the challenges of radical obedience bring us close to you as we rediscover our utter dependence on your grace and mercy.
And, most of all, Holy God, bestow on us the simple joy and healing power of authentic surrender.

In the name of him who turned away from fame and fortune to save us all. Amen.