Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American politician, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, holding the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office, and served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. President Harry S. Truman later called her the “First Lady of the World” in tribute to her human rights achievements.

Mrs. Roosevelt has a long list of distinguishing qualities and achievements.  One of the least talked about is her faith.  In my opinion, I would say her faith played a huge role in the heart that she displayed for her fellow man and her humanitarian efforts all over the globe.

Below is a prayer attributed to the former First Lady:

“Our Father, who has set a restlessness in our hearts and made us all seekers after that which we can never fully find, forbid us to be satisfied with what we make of life. Draw us from base content and set our eyes on far-off goals. Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength. Deliver us from fretfulness and self-pitying; make us sure of the good we cannot see and of the hidden good in the world. Open our eyes to simple beauty all around us and our hearts to the loveliness men hide from us because we do not try to understand them. Save us from ourselves and show us a vision of a world made new.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

This is the prayer of someone that pursued goals so big that she knew she could not accomplish them without the help of God and also a person that was always looking for the best in humanity and not a reason to cry fowl.

I dare say that more of us could use a little of both of these sentiments in our lives.

May ask you, when was the last time you accomplished something that you know would be certain failure if God did not intervene on your behalf?  Do you neglect such things because of fear?  If so, what exactly are you afraid of?

One last thing.  How often do you look for the good in others?  Are you quick to set aside the faults of your fellow man and give him/her the benefit of the doubt, or are you more than eager to shove their faults in their face and parade them around for all the world to see.  Which do you think makes a better world to live in?  Which would you prefer to be on the receiving end of?

Written by Larry Westfall.  Copyright © Finding Wonder 2016.