Prayers

When I was in elementary and high school, we were asked to pray together before every class starts. There was a different prayer for every period and we were asked to memorize each and every one of them. We all did memorize them but I think some of us never got the meaning of these prayers. For me, I just realized them now but it's never too late, isn't it?

Prayer for Generosity:
"Dearest Lord,
Teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as I should.
To give and not to count the cost.
To fight and not to heed the wounds.
To toil and not to seek for rest.
To labor and not ask for reward.
Save that of knowing that I do your most holy will."

Prayer Before Study or Work:
"Direct I beseech you, O Lord, all my actions by your inspiration, and carry them by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of mine may always begin from you and through you be happily ended."

I believe that these prayers are not for God but for us to convince ourselves to be generous and work hard for ourselves and for others. We must not choose whom we are kind to. We must work hard not because we get something back but because the pleasure of helping and serving others is a reward in itself. We must realize that the greatest achievement is from giving and that to love brings you more joy than to be loved.