I do not know if this is an authentic Irish blessing, but it is one that never fails to bring a smile to my face. See what you think:
May those who love us love us. And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts. And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping.
I had a close friendship go disasterously sour many years ago (ah the perils of befriending a nutcase) and the former friend has chronic trouble with an ankle & limped exaggeratedly because of it... this blessing (curse?) makes me think of her and laugh. It was a long time before I could laugh about that train-wreck of a friendship, I tell you that much! I will be careful who I befriend from now on.
SB (older AND wiser, how 'bout that?!?)
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"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king..."
I will have to agree with you on this Irish poem. My father actually has a sweat shirt that has this poem on it and he loves to wear it. And that is saying something for a guy that doesnt like wearing anything lighter than black and this shirt being a light gray and with green shammrocks.
Getting wiser really IS one of the few good things about getting older... things like, its okay to say no... you can't please everyone... and realizing what things really deserve my time and attention, those are lessons I'm glad to have finally learned.
I enjoy the experience of learning, that sudden moment of clarity-- makes the world brighter. EMIL FABER! Knowledge is Good! Whether true or not, that blessing deserves recognition.