There
is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Sometimes we
learn to seek happiness by limiting our desires, rather than
attempting to satisfy them. In
life, we learn that everyone wants to live on top of
the mountain, without realizing that all the happiness and growth occurs
while we are climbing it. Let us learn from the following narrative
inspired by the writings of an unknown writer.
One
day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have
one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to
quit?" His answer surprised me. "Look around", He said. "Do you
see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care
of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from
the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from
the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the
fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo."
He said, "In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the
bamboo seed. I would not quit."
He said, "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the
earth. Compared to the fern, it was
Sometimes
God doesn't give you what you think you want, not because you don't
deserve it, but because you deserve so much more.
- Esperanza David |
He said, "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the
earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and
insignificant, but just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet
tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my
creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have
been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on
the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to
others."
It's funny
because we ask God to change our situation, not knowing He put us in the
situation to change us. |
He said, "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they
both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come."
God said to me, "You will rise high."
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you
can."
I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help
you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you.
Let us never regret a day in our lives. Good days give us happiness; bad days give
us experiences; both are essential to life.
A heart at peace gives life to the body (Proverbs 14:30).
By
Tim Pedrosa
Resolve to be tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic
with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.- Bob Goddard |
Tim
|