When The Medicine Goes Down, But Still Tastes Like Crap.

This is something I've heard a lot. Like, A LOT. And I truly do love it and believe it. But it still isn't easy to swallow. Thanks for sharing this, Mom. (From: Music and the Spoken Word, 1-16-11)

"We don’t always get
what we hope for—and that can be a
good thing. Our desires, even our prayers,
sometimes reveal a limited vision of what
we can become. Often, if we’re patient,
there’s a greater blessing in store for us.
Even our trials and setbacks can be stepping-stones to greater growth.

The key, as this anonymous prayer teaches us, is to learn to be grateful for the blessings we didn’t ask for.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be
happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for—but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly
blessed.1

1. in Suzy platt, ed., Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1993), 277.