BG2

I asked God to take away my pain.
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. Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.

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 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... Ahhh, finally you have the idea.
-author unknown

"When all vanishes and I stand in this place to face the truth for what it is/ with no human escape to hide behind just my soul and God and I find it mind blowing knowing that humanity and a mere mortal like me/ can have my slate cleaned of mistakes and the chance to put on immortality/ even though darkness has hardened us in deception and spoken otherwise man I refuse to take in that nonsense and I refuse to buy into these lies/ these lies of pain these lies of shame these lies of complete disfunction/ this lie of hopelessness that will make a person feel like they're nothing/ this lie that will make me feel like my struggle is one too much to fix'n/ isn't that what darkness wants me to play the role of a victim/ but I'm a child of light no longer bound by slavery/ I say oh death where is your sting/ and oh hades where is your victory?"
- J. Reuben 'Draw Near'

Submitted anonymously:
SO MANY WORDS UNSPOKEN,
SO MANY FEELINGS UNFELT,
SO MUCH TIME UNSPENT,
THE TRAGEDY CANNOT BE FATHOMED,
THE PHONE CALL CANT BE TRUE,
NOT SOMEONE SO KIND,
NOT SOMEONE SO HUMBLE,
NOT SOMEONE SO SUCCESSFUL,
NOT SOMEONE SO YOUNG,
UNPRECEDENTED SORROW THE FOLLOWING MORNING,
WHEN EYES OPEN TO A FAR DIFFERENT DAY,
A DAY WITHOUT YOUR CLASSMATE,
A DAY WITHOUT YOUR FRIEND,
A DAY WITHOUT YOUR BROTHER,
A DAY WITHOUT YOUR SON,
A DAY TOO TRAGIC TO BEAR.