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 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
me fruitful.

I asked God if he loved me, and God
said. "Yes."
He gave me His only Son who died
for me, and I will be in Heaven
some day because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others
as much as he loves me, and
God said,
"Ah, finally, you have the idea."

© 1980, Claudia Minden Weisz.