Past, Present, Future
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Forgive what I’ve been. Correct what I am. Direct what I will be.
Every night before bed, my wife and I pray with our kids. And if you’ve ever had young kids, you know that sometimes those prayers get a little more abbreviated on certain days.
Those long days where, frankly, you just want to get them in bed so you can get into bed.
It’s times like that when I remember these words from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Because in one sentence—just a few phrases—we have everything we need. A complete formula for prayer.
Forgive what I’ve been. Turn to the Lord for mercy over the past, over where we’ve fallen short, over what we wish we could undo.
Correct what I am. Ask for His grace in this present moment, for the wisdom and strength to change what needs changing right now.
Direct what I will be. Entrust the future to Him, asking for His guidance, His direction, His will to shape what’s ahead.
Past, present, future. All of it in one breath.
Some nights, that’s all we have time for. And some nights, that’s all we need.
Forgive what I’ve been. Correct what I am. Direct what I will be.