(Alcoholics Anonymous Prayer)
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens. Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions—in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing. (1st Century)
If there’s a remedy when trouble strikes,
What reason is there for dejection?
And if there is no help for it,
What use is there in being glum? (8th Century)
At the head of all understanding – is distinguishing between what is and what cannot be, and the consoling of what is not in our power to change. (11th Century)
For every ailment under the sun
There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try to find it;
If there be none, never mind it. (Around 1827)
Blessed is he, who has learned to bear what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity, what he cannot save. (1801)
The victorious man in the day of crisis is the man who has the serenity to accept what he cannot help and the courage to change what must be altered. (1932)
Oh, God, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what can not be helped, and insight to know the one from the other. (1933)
O God, give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other. (1937)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. (1951)
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other. (1951)
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference. (AA)
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