And God Said No!

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, “No.”
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, “No.”
He said her spirit is whole.
Her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, “No.”
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, “No.”
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, “No.”
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make it fruitful.

I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
“Ah finally, you have the idea.”

-By Claudia Minden Welsz

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do great things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for-but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

O God, help us

to be generous in our opinions of others,

to be considerate of all we meet,

to be patient with those with whom we work,

to be faithful to every trust,

to be courageous in the face of danger,

to be humble in all our living,

to be prayerful every hour of the day,

to be joyous in all life's experience,

and to be dependent upon Thee

for strength in facing life's uncertainties.