And God said "No."

And God Said, “No.”

I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, “No.”

He said it was not for Him to take away,

but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, “No.”

He said, “Her spirit is whole; her body is only temporary.”

I asked God to grant me patience, and God said, “No.”

He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation; it isn’t granted, it’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, “No.”

He said He gives blessings; happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare my pain, and God said, “No.”

He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, “No.”

He said I must grow on my own,

but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, and God said, “Yes.”

He gave His only Son, Who died for me, and I will be in Heaven some day

because I believe in Him, because I love Him.

So I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.

And God said,

“Ah, finally, you have the idea – the right idea!”

About Fr. Wade Menezes

Fr. Wade L. J. Menezes, CPM is a member of the Fathers of Mercy, a missionary preaching Religious Congregation based in Auburn, Kentucky. Ordained a priest during the Great Jubilee Year 2000, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Catholic Thought from the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Toronto, Canada and his dual Master of Arts and Master of Divinity Degrees in Theology from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. His secular college degrees are in journalism and communications.