I asked God to take away my arrogance, and God replied: No.
God said; it is not its job to take it away; it is my responsibility to give it up.
I asked God to make my crippled child healthy, and God replied: No.
God said; his soul is healthy, the rest is temporary.
I asked God to give me patience, and God replied: No.
God said; patience is the by-product of suffering; can’t give it, it can only be earned.
I asked God to give me happiness, and God replied: No.
God said; I can give you blessing, but happiness depends on you.
I asked God to take away pain, and God replied: No.
God said; suffering takes you away from material things and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to grow my spirit to be great, and God replied: No.
God said; I must grow alone, God will prune me sometimes so I will bear more fruit.
I asked God to help me love people, the way God loves me.
And God replied: finally, a good idea!
by Maria Szepes
(translated from Hungarian)