Serenity Prayer Poems like (quote)

[KelsieB]

I have a friend who wants to get the serenity prayer tattooed on her back, but she's not religious and I think its weird to get a prayer when you don't believe in god. But at the same time she likes this prayer because its uplifting and has great ideas of moving through it when things get ****ty.

My question is: are there any poems that are like the serenity prayer?

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by KelsieB

I have a friend who wants to get the serenity prayer tattooed on her back, but she's not religious and I think its weird to get a prayer when you don't believe in god. But at the same time she likes this prayer because its uplifting and has great ideas of moving through it when things get ****ty.

My question is: are there any poems that are like the serenity prayer?

First, I would caution your friend that the Serenity Prayer is closely identified with Alcoholics Anonymous, even though of course it's also common currency. A tattoo would be very bold, intimating a certain devotion to the words. It's true that most people don't make the association with AA, but the few who do (I who've been involved with social services organizations) might make unwarranted spontaneous assumptions--not that it's a bad thing if it's true, but somewhat awkward if it isn't.

As to the prayer itself, it's actually not necessarily a God-believing one, but a self-affirmation. From Plan B by Dave Andrews, here's an alternative that I reworded just a bit:

"Give me the serenity
to accept those I cannot change,
the courage to change the person I can,
and the wisdom to know it is me!"

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

First, I would caution your friend that the Serenity Prayer is closely identified with Alcoholics Anonymous, even though of course it's also common currency. A tattoo would be very bold, intimating a certain devotion to the words. It's true that most people don't make the association with AA, but the few who do (I who've been involved with social services organizations) might make unwarranted spontaneous assumptions--not that it's a bad thing if it's true, but somewhat awkward if it isn't.

As to the prayer itself, it's actually not necessarily a God-believing one, but a self-affirmation. From Plan B by Dave Andrews, here's an alternative that I reworded just a bit:

"Give me the serenity
to accept those I cannot change,
the courage to change the person I can,
and the wisdom to know it is me!"

Clever, I like that!

I echo your sentiment that the use of the serenity prayer is often associated with AA or NA, but also that those organizations don't require a belief in God. They do, however, suggest that you focus on a Higher Power, which could be your anything as non-spiritual as your refrigerator if you choose.

I also like this one:

God, Let those who love us, love
And those who do not love us, turn their hearts
And if you cannot turn their hearts
Then turn their ankles, so we may know them by their limp.