It was St.Patrick’s Day this week. My first name is Patrick but I am not Irish; I am French among other things. Jewish European families often give their children a first name from their country of residence, as well as a Jewish name. My Jewish name is Gabriel. All that said, I am neither Irish nor an angel.
I thought of an Irish blessing this week, “May God give you want you want!”. It reminded of the story of a certain lady. At the age of three, her daughter caught meningitis. She was going to die. The mother got so upset at God. She couldn’t wrap herself around the idea that God would let her precious daughter die. She felt that it was most unfair for God to let that happen. She prayed to the Divine Authority over all things. She at the same time begged for mercy and angrily pleaded her case. She pulled from her knowledge of Scriptures and reminded God of the times when He changed his mind, and lo and behold, she prevailed. Her daughter did not die. Many years passed and the daughter grew to a spunky teenager. She got involved with bad company which introduced her to drugs and prostitution. She made bad choices which led her down the wrong path. She was later found dead in the streets. At that time, the mother prayed again but this time with tears of regrets saying, “Oh; that she had died when she was three!”. At the expense of sounding fatalistic (which I am not), I feel that there is a great lesson to learn from this. It is the same lesson we repeatedly remind one of our students of at school. His sense of anxiety provokes him to always tried to remain in control of what’s happening around him, so we constantly remind him, “Go with the flow; go with the flow!” In life, it is sometimes better to accept what the Divine Authority has decreed. When we don’t, we may pray over ourselves the old Irish blessing: ‘May God give you want you want!’ Here is what has been known as: The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier. I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made 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. I was given 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 for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
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