I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this posted....but for those who asked:

And God said "No"  Author unknown

I asked God to take 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 his spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said "No";
        He said patience is a by-product of tribulation,
                It isn't granted.....it is 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 me 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 ask God for all things that I might enjoy life,
And God said "No";
        He said, "I will give you life that you may enjoy all things."
I asked God to help me love others as much as he loves me,
And God said "Finally you have the idea."

Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
Texas A&M University