And God said no....

And God Said, “No.”

Poem by  Fr. Wade L. J. Menezes

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 that patience is a by-product of tribulation; it isn’t granted, it’s 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 my 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 me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, and God said, “Yes.”

He gave His only Son, Who died for me, and I will be in Heaven some day

because I believe in Him, because I love Him.

So I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.

And God said,

“Ah, finally, you have the idea – the right idea!”