Give us the pleasure of a cheerful song

And spare us the measure of the tearful wrong;

Give us the words that are warming and witty

And spare us the whining of spite and self-pity.

Give us the heart to go forward with hope

And spare us the warning that we just can't cope;

Give us the memory of the best that we had

And spare us the thought that the rest is all bad;

Give us the friendship we knew in our youth

And spare us the false friends who don't deal in truth;

Give us the courage to make choices alone

And spare us the words "You're out there on your own";

Give us above all the faith to keep on

And spare us the fear when life's nearly gone.