I bring this prayer to You, Lord
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
Give me, Lord, what you have left over.
Give me what no-one ever asks You for.
I don't ask You for rest
Or quiet
Whether of soul or body.
I don't ask You for wealth,
Nor for success, nor even health perhaps.
That sort of thing You get asked for so much
That You can't have any of it left.
Give me, Lord, what you have left over,
Give me what no-one wants from you.
I want insecurity, strife,
And I want You to give me these
Once and for all.
So that I can be sure of having them always,
Since I shall not always have the courage
To ask You for them.
Give me, Lord, what You have left over,
Give me what others want nothing to do with.
But give me courage too,
And strength and faith
For You alone can give
What one cannot demand from oneself.
This text was discovered in the pocket of André Zirnheld,
Free French SAS, Killed in Action, 1942