Hatrack River Forum: And God Said . . .

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Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

This came to me in an e-mail some time ago - I wonder how long it's been making the rounds?

And I wonder what other sorts of things we think God has said to us?

quote:

& GOD SAID 'NO'

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

I asked God to make my family whole;
God said, No.
I gave all people free will, and I don't make anyone do anything at all.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Years. Years and years.

Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :

I know a tech support person who works on very similar principles.

But we just call him lazy.

Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :

It hasn't made the rounds to me (but then, my friends are mostly atheists, or agnostics). But I think I'll pass it on to my friend's pastor: he'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

Posted by ginette (Member # 852) on :

Thanks Shan! I liked that [Smile]

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

Hey, someone got an explanation. Usually, I just get the 'No,' and have to figure out the why on my own. . . [Big Grin]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

(((Shan)))

Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :

quote:
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

This is wrong, but in a way in which I can't fully articulate right now.
I'd like to try, but first I'll need to separate out all of the spiteful, angry things which are desperately trying to claw their way out of my mouth right now...

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TheHumanTarget:

quote:
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
This is wrong, but in a way in which I can't fully articulate right now.
I'd like to try, but first I'll need to separate out all of the spiteful, angry things which are desperately trying to claw their way out of my mouth right now...

It set my teeth on edge for a minute, too - but the more I thought about it, and the more I thought about the medical fragility of my child, and the conditions he'll have to live with the rest of his life, and the years I spent beating my head against a brick wall trying to find out "why" and "how to fix it" (all of which were necessary and right to do) -

and then there is relief in looking at it in a different way -

His spirit (to me, and in my belief system) will be forever. And his spirit is wonderfully empathic, intelligent, fun-loving, curious, creative - and ohhh, so many other things, to boot.

The issues that came along with the package called his "body" are not fixable or stoppable by today's medicine/science/medical practice. But that doesn't make him, his body, his health, his needs, his wants, his joys, his desires, his fears, any of that any less valuable.

And letting go a bit of that intense desire to have him made "whole" in the image most commonly accepted as "whole" in today's world allowed me to relax a bit and simply enjoy the wonderful reality of who my child is . . .