Once on a journey, a Rabbi and his students were refused hospitality at a certain town. Instead of being upset, the Rabbi said: "Whatever God does is for the good!" However, the group had to spend the night in a field.
The Rabbi brought along a donkey, a rooster to awaken him early, and a lamp for studying scripture. That evening, as he was studying, a wind blew out his lamp. Then a cat pounced on his rooster and ate it. Finally, a prowling lion ate his donkey. The Rabbi's reaction to all this was:
"Whatever God does is for the good!"
Late that night, marauding troops raided the town and took all its inhabitants captive. The next morning, the Rabbi and his students discovered what happened. Then he reminded his students: "Didn't I tell you, whatever God does is for the good! If the lamp would have been shining or the rooster would have crowed, or the donkey would have brayed, we too, would have been taken captive."
This lesson in everyday life is extremely important. If we realize that everything is by Divine Providence and that we cannot always see the full picture, we would have a much easier time coping and proceeding through life.
And perhaps if we look closely, we may even at times understand how the things we perceive as negative are really for our good.
this message lifted my spirits, and hope it will lift yours too.
search41
dot said
Feb 11, 2005
Thanks search for a chuckle along with a good reminder.
Love - Dot
NANUKE said
Feb 11, 2005
Thanks search for the "fruitful reminder." When things go against the grain or my will, I look for "A Higher Good." It provides hope, and sometimes, without my knowing it, my HP is testing me to check my faith in any given situation.
Appreciate the insight, again, I always need to be reminded. Guess that is why I continue to commit to recovery, not relapse (consequently, despair)!
Love and Prayers in Recovery,
Nan
richard said
Feb 12, 2005
I wonder how the donkey and rooster felt about that tale?
Hugs & Luv,
shimo said
Feb 12, 2005
This is really a great reminder that God does work things out for our own good, and some things that are meant for evil He turns to the good.
If God brings you to it; He will bring you through it.
I often pray: God, I bring this trial to you. I am trusting that however you choose to handle this will be an expression of your love for me.
Love in recovery - Shimo (Jeri)
search41 said
Feb 16, 2005
thank you all for your replies to this post. it feels so good to know that others also got something out of a message that really spoke to me, as well. i have printed this one out so i remember this more than maybe just once a year!!!! lol!
it is sooo easy to lose sight of the fact that hp sees the big picture when it appears to us that it's a negative thing that has happened in our lives. and such a comfort to know, that even though we tend to be very short-sighted and maybe even freak out about things...hp STILL sees the big picture and carries out His will, huh? in spite of our humaness!!! what a wonderful hp we have!
boy, is this an attitude worth being reminded of:
For The Good
============
Once on a journey, a Rabbi and his students were refused
hospitality at a certain town. Instead of being upset, the
Rabbi said: "Whatever God does is for the good!" However, the
group had to spend the night in a field.
The Rabbi brought along a donkey, a rooster to awaken him early,
and a lamp for studying scripture. That evening, as he was
studying, a wind blew out his lamp. Then a cat pounced on his
rooster and ate it. Finally, a prowling lion ate his donkey.
The Rabbi's reaction to all this was:
"Whatever God does is for the good!"
Late that night, marauding troops raided the town and took all
its inhabitants captive. The next morning, the Rabbi and his
students discovered what happened. Then he reminded his
students: "Didn't I tell you, whatever God does is for the good!
If the lamp would have been shining or the rooster would have
crowed, or the donkey would have brayed, we too, would have been
taken captive."
This lesson in everyday life is extremely important. If we
realize that everything is by Divine Providence and that we
cannot always see the full picture, we would have a much easier
time coping and proceeding through life.
And perhaps if we look closely, we may even at times understand
how the things we perceive as negative are really for our good.
this message lifted my spirits, and hope it will lift yours too.
search41
Thanks search for the "fruitful reminder." When things go against the grain or my will, I look for "A Higher Good." It provides hope, and sometimes, without my knowing it, my HP is testing me to check my faith in any given situation.
Appreciate the insight, again, I always need to be reminded. Guess that is why I continue to commit to recovery, not relapse (consequently, despair)!
Love and Prayers in Recovery,
Nan
I wonder how the donkey and rooster felt about that tale?
Hugs & Luv,
This is really a great reminder that God does work things out for our own good, and some things that are meant for evil He turns to the good.
If God brings you to it; He will bring you through it.
I often pray: God, I bring this trial to you. I am trusting that however you choose to handle this will be an expression of your love for me.
Love in recovery - Shimo (Jeri)
thank you all for your replies to this post. it feels so good to know that others also got something out of a message that really spoke to me, as well. i have printed this one out so i remember this more than maybe just once a year!!!! lol!
it is sooo easy to lose sight of the fact that hp sees the big picture when it appears to us that it's a negative thing that has happened in our lives. and such a comfort to know, that even though we tend to be very short-sighted and maybe even freak out about things...hp STILL sees the big picture and carries out His will, huh? in spite of our humaness!!! what a wonderful hp we have!
may your "big picture" always be a blessing!
search41