A Prayer of Abandonment

Father,

I abandon myself into your hands;

do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you;

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me,

and in all your creatures.

I wish no more than this,

O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;

I offer it to you with all the love

of my heart,

for I love you, Lord,

and so need to give myself,

to surrender myself into your hands,

without reserve

and with boundless confidence.

For you are my Father.

- Charles de Foucald

Tough Love

Some random thoughts on tough love.

Tough love . . . 

. . . is not mean love. It is still kind and gracious.

. . . has teary eyes not clenched jaws. It is firm, but not angry.

. . . is not judgmentalism under the guise of caring.

. . . is painful and heartbreaking for the one delivering it.

. . . is forgiving, but not permissive.

. . . uses a scalpel, not a machete.

. . . seeks to set people free, not to set people straight.