IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE
SELFLESS
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm
at sea and only two of the men on it were
able to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors, not knowing what else to
do, agree that they had no other recourse
but to pray to God. However, to find out
whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed
to divide the territory between them and
stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The
next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing
tree on his side of the land, and he was able to
eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land
remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he
decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another
ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a
woman who swam to his side of the land. On the
other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes,
more food. The next day, like 'magic', all of
these were given to him. However, the second man
still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that
he and his wife could leave the island. In the
morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the
island. The first man boarded the ship with his
wife and decided to leave the second man on the
island. He considered the other man unworthy to
receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers
had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard
a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving
your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one
who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His
prayers were all unanswered and so he does not
deserve anything."
"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had
only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that,
you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did
he pray for that I should owe him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."
(Author Unknown)
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