These lines are frequently attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier. The verses are actually by the prolific American poet, Edgar A. Guest from a poem entitled “Answered Prayer”.
Decide for yourself on the quality of the poem.
Answered Prayer
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 received nothing that I asked for, all that I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most blessed…
As Martin Luther put it, “We pray for silver, but God often gives us gold instead.”
For those interested, Prayer by O. Hallesby, PhD (1931), a reverent and thoughtful analysis of prayer, may be found at www.prayermeetings.org/…/Hallesby_O_Prayer_with_note-space.doc .
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
As legal professionals, most of us have worked through lunch. Most, for that matter, have worked through dinner, even through the night. We know the after-hours cleaning staff by name, and bring our briefcases along on vacation.
We juggle priorities for a living; wrestle with adversaries; plead with judges and juries. We take calls at midnight; pace dim hallways; drive down rutted and forsaken roads. We meet clients in dingy diners and basement apartments; take depositions at bedside in nursing homes.
Most of us would be too embarrassed to admit that we share our clients’ pain. We simply do our best to represent them.
This is sacrificial living. To live sacrificially is to offer our lives wholly to God; to give God our love, will, reason, and bodies as borne out in daily practical service to others. In this – not money, prestige, or fame – lies the true glory of the profession.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).
Lord God, You gave Your Son as the ultimate sacrifice. May our lives, too, be pleasing to You.
Give us strength when we falter. Guard us against growing hard of heart, that we may never grow weary of pursuing justice.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
“He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail or be discouraged, ’til He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Is. 42: 3-4).
In every heart there is initially a longing for justice, the recognition of God’s law. This forms the basis for conscience. Standards of morality may differ from one society to the next. Sensitivity of the conscience will differ from one individual to another. But from the start, we bear the handprint of our Maker.
This does not imply that we will never sin. To the contrary, conscience is intended to warn us against sin. It points even those entirely unacquainted with Jewish or Christian Scripture toward God. Read more…
Detail from “Jesus and the Children”, Stained Glass Window by Franz Borgias Mayer at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA, Photo by Andreas Praefcke (Licensed-PD-Art)
The children were lined up for lunch in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school. At the head of the table was a pile of apples. The nuns had made a large sign, and posted it on the apple tray: “Take only ONE. God is watching.” Farther along the lunch line, at the other end of the table, was a pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had scribbled a note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”
Sweet joke. God is not, of course, stingy. He made – and watches over – apples and chocolate chip cookies alike. Not to mention children.
“ ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven’ ” (Matt. 19:14).
Lord Jesus, we lift our little ones up to You at this time.
To our shame, there are children in our world – in our own cities even – without adequate food or clothing; without adequate shelter. Daily there are children exposed to guns, drugs, and alcohol. Daily there are children neglected or abused.
Having borne the brunt of our sins, You better than anyone know the impact of those sins on our children. Reach out to our little ones, especially those at risk. Surround them with Your love and protection.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
At the time of this writing there were two major abuse cases on trial in Pennsylvania: Msgr. William Lynn, alleged to have facilitated the systematic cover up by Catholic Church officials of pedophile priests; and former Penn State University coach Jerry Sandusky, alleged to have molested ten boys.
Each year, some six million children in the United States are sexually or physically abused. Since abuse is so common and the scars of abuse can last a lifetime, there is every possibility an attorney will at some point in his or her career encounter an abuse survivor, whether as a client or otherwise.
This article is an attempt to explore the emotional and spiritual ramifications of abuse, and provide Christian attorneys some guidance in dealing sensitively (and biblically) with abuse victims. Not all abuse victims, are, of course, Christian. However, the principles outlined here are intended to be universal.
Predators – Responsible Adults
It must be said at the outset that children are NEVER responsible for the abuse inflicted upon them. The idea of a “bad or “seductive” child is a lie perpetrated by child molesters, a rationale to excuse their heinous actions.
Predators are often manipulative, convincing child victims that they brought on the violation; consented to the violation; will not be believed, if the violation is reported; will be sent away from home, if the violation is reported; will place their parents (or pets) in danger, if the violation is reported, etc.
As a consequence, victims will often experience a misplaced sense of guilt and shame. Read more…
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the many paralegals, law students, and legal secretaries with whom attorneys serve. Though we take the bows, the support of these capable and devoted individuals is essential to our success.
Who else types and catalogues (not to mention copies) thousands of pages a year for us? Who else manages to find not only the documents we misplaced, but the most obscure of cases on point for our cause?
Who rushes to Court to bring us new information in the midst of a trial? Who stays late evenings at our side, types multiple revisions, comes in on snow days, collates motion papers on the floor…and puts up with us, in general? Read more…
“Three Lawyers in Conversation” by Honore Daumier (PD-ArtlPD-old-100)
“Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed” (1 Sam. 2: 3).
In case you have not noticed, we lawyers have a tendency toward arrogance. The trait is not what anyone would call Christian, and does not exactly endear us to others.
Oh, arrogance has its uses. Arrogance can intimidate those who believe the sight of a chest being pounded signifies strength. Sometimes we pound our chests to convince ourselves of that very thing.
Arrogance may be employed defensibly, as armor against the barrage of barbs, disappointments, and failures we must be prepared to endure, in the hope of ultimate success on behalf of our clients. The world, by contrast, views hope as an emotion not worth acknowledging. Hope might imply weakness, because it admits of the possibility of defeat. Defeats bounce off arrogance; they can be blamed on circumstances or the errors of subordinates – though, deep down, we know the truth. Read more…
Golden Gate through which it is said the Messiah will return, Source https://www.flickr.com, Author Chadica (CC Attribution 2.0 Generic)
A legend from the Talmud:
Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi came upon Elijah, and asked the great prophet when the Messiah would at last come. “Go and ask Him yourself,” Elijah replied. Astonished, the rabbi then asked where the Messiah was to be found.
“Sitting at the gates of the city, among the poor and covered with wounds,” Elijah replied.
Sure enough, Rabbi Yoshua found the Messiah sitting among the poor at the gates of the city. After some hesitation, the rabbi inquired respectfully, “When is the Master coming?” “Today,” the Messiah responded.
Disappointed, Rabbi Yoshua returned to Elijah, who asked why he appeared so dejected. “The Messiah deceived me,” responded the rabbi, “for He said, ‘Today I am coming’ and He has not come.” Elijah gently corrected the rabbi, “This is what He told you: today if you would listen to His voice.”
Today He stands at the gate to our hearts. Today He knocks and seeks entry. Today we are invited to join in His supper. Today we are called to follow in His footsteps.
“Today, if you will hear His voice: ‘Do not harden your hearts…’” (Ps. 95: 7-8).
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
European Chemical Bureau’s Hazard Symbol for Toxic and Highly Toxic Substances
“Their wine is the poison of serpents, and the cruel venom of cobras” (Deut. 32: 33).
In Takhar province, Afghanistan, 160 school girls were poisoned this week. A puzzling headline, hardly a blip on the screen. But this is not the first instance of such poisoning. Last week, more than 120 school girls were hospitalized in another poisoning incident. In April, over 170 women and girls were poisoned by well water at a school. There have been other incidents in the past several years.
Under the Taliban’s rule from 1996-2001, few Afghan girls were permitted to attend school. Though the Taliban denies responsibility for these latest poisonings, the prohibition against schooling for women is deeply rooted. Schools have gradually reopened since the US invasion in 2001, but conservative Afghan families frequently prohibit their wives and daughters from pursuing an education. Domestic abuse of women is, also, tolerated with victims blamed for provoking the violence inflicted on them.
Across time and across the globe, women have been harassed, threatened, imprisoned, violated, and put to death for seeking equality with their male counterparts. Read more…
“Christ Crucified” by Diego Velazquez (c. 1632), Prado Museum (Accession No. P01167), Source Web Gallery of Art, (PD-Art, Old-100)
The 18th Century rabbi, Israel ben Eliezer, wrote of suffering:
“Each prayer has its own meaning, and it is, therefore, the specific key to a door in the Divine Palace. But a broken heart is an axe that opens all the gates.”
The sick, the needy, the desperate, the lost; the grieving; the persecuted and imprisoned; the abandoned and alone. These understand suffering.
To the sick and those in pain, Christ is the Great Physician. To those in need, the desperate, and the lost, He is the Way. To the grieving, He is the Man of Sorrows. To the persecuted and imprisoned, He is the Advocate and Counselor. To the abandoned and alone, He is the Beloved.
The source of all comfort, Christ is with us in all trials. None of us is truly abandoned, for He is there. In return, Christ asks that we extend a hand to the lost and less fortunate, that we reach out in love even when we may be rejected.
Christ does not urge us to live cautious lives. Love is not measured with an eyedropper, in safe increments. It is poured out, as balm on the wounds of the world. As His was for us.
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 