“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. He made me weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. He gave me 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 hoped. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.”
–Unknown
Strange are the ways of the world they say, and even stranger are the attributes of the human race. We keep asking the Lord for things we do not rightfully deserve. We hardly ever bother to study what price one pays for success, leave aside transitory show of well-being. Our quest for more is akin to a bottomless pit that remains empty no matter how much we put into it.
I may not be way off the mark in my observation that a vast majority of us believe in one or another form of a supernatural power that makes this world tick. No matter how much trust we have in our own capabilities and that of our family, friends, relations and other well-wishers, there comes a certain stage in life, in most cases, where we find ourselves helpless. Such grim situations force us to look skywards and make a Prayer, no matter to whom.
The above quote gives us the inspiration to find happiness in adversity. It teaches us the power of negativity in building positivity. So long as we are willing to appreciate the value of life, each life, we can continue to build bonds of togetherness. These bonds carry within them the power to bring us joy and happiness.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
–Nelson Mandela
The distinction between the rich and the poor is not that difficult to understand and overcome once we change our attitude in life. The following proverb may help us appreciate the true value of richness, over and beyond the transitory: “If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.” In the words of William Shakespeare: “No legacy is so rich as honesty!”
“When it comes to weakness, we shall pay heed to the following words of wisdom that I learned early on in my life: “A weakness of this age is our inability to distinguish our need from our greed.”
–Author Unknown
Another valuable lesson we can all stand to gain from, comes from none other than one of the better-known American Statesmen named Benjamin Franklin: “Who is wise, he that learns from everyone. Who is powerful, he that governs his passions. Who is rich, he that is content.” He was a leading author, printer, politician, Statesman, scientist, inventor and diplomat. He formed the first public lending library in the U.S., and the first Fire Department in Pennsylvania. Credit goes to Benjamin Franklin for inventions of the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, the odometer and the bifocal lenses. Among his most notable words of wisdom, we can count: “No man was ever glorious, who was not laborious.”
TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!
