[MORTARDUDE]

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk
who cut us off in traffic last night, is a single mother
who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to
cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and
spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested
young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging
for money in the same spot every day (who really ought
to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only
imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly
slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping
progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on
the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last
year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you
give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that
love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those
who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge
and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

If you send this to 5 people then you have a chance to make 5
people smile. You won't get any wish for material things, however
you might just find a piece of serenity and the warmth of God's touch.

"Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for."