A Creed For All Who Have Suffered...And Those Who Will

[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

I read this bit of wisdom today and was deeply touched by it. I hope it blesses each of you.---John Peterson

A Creed For Those Who Have Suffered

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 great 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 I asked for - but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!

Attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier

[Johnny]

Thanks for the Blessing John!

[April]

Thank you for sharing that. That is true wisdom.

[Big Bear]

Wow that was beautiful!
Thank you Bro!

peace,
jason

[Greg Newton]

Whew, awe inspiring to say the least. Truly penned from one who experienced the agony and heartbreak of rough living and war.

I am descended from a man who was captured and spent time in a northern prison that was converted to house prisoners of war. He was later moved to Fort Polaski in Savannah after the Union took over there. At war's end he walked nearly 300 miles to get back to the family farm on Crowe Creek. It is no wonder that when his grandchildren pressed him for stories about the war he would not talk about it.

Greg

[Aaron Hoot]

Truly encouraging and inspiring. Thanks for posting that for us. We needed it!

Your servant in Christ,

Aaron

[MikeNY]

Beautiful words John, and it speaks to the heart.

[April]

Whew, awe inspiring to say the least. Truly penned from one who experienced the agony and heartbreak of rough living and war.

I am descended from a man who was captured and spent time in a northern prison that was converted to house prisoners of war. He was later moved to Fort Polaski in Savannah after the Union took over there. At war's end he walked nearly 300 miles to get back to the family farm on Crowe Creek. It is no wonder that when his grandchildren pressed him for stories about the war he would not talk about it.

Greg

Greg, I have heard that Holocaust survivors also rarely talk about what they went through.

[Greg Newton]

Hi April,

I think it is human nature to supress the soul quenching times of human agony and degradation. It makes us who we are, but no one wants to relive it. It is like we close a door to the past. We walk by countless times during the day, but we never open it.

I've been to Fort Polaski and much like Andersonville for the Union soldiers it is hard to imagine the kind of conditions those Confederate prisoners suffered in those cramped, outdoor quarters. It was bad enough just being an ordinary soldier stationed at the fort. It is also hard to picture a 300 mile journey afoot, not knowing anyone, the roadway full of returning veterans, and being half starved and probably sick as well.

My ancestor's brother had his arm shot off at Vicksburg, but unlike my great great grandfather, he was very garrulous about the war. In contrast though, he came home to recover and didn't spend time in a prisoner of war camp.

This ties in to what Andy often speaks of as nerve force, and that has to be the difference in mental resiliency for those that chose to live and survive in desperate, sick, cold, hungry and agonizing times. Of course though, Auswitch made Fort Polaski look like a picnic ground. I will never forget the story an aging Corrie Ten Boom told of her sister dying of disease in the concentration camp. When someone asked why she had hope, her dying sister told them that no matter how deep the pit, God was still there deeper.

[Java]

This is indeed a beautiful poem!

I hope you can help me out on this.
What does "Almost despite myself" mean?

Does it mean despite the fact that I'm not worth it? or what?

[Java]

This is indeed a beautiful poem!

Thanks for sharing this.
I hope you can help me out on this, but what does "Almost despite myself" mean?

Does it mean, despite the fact that I'm not worth it? or what?

[Andy62]

Listen to your internal voice and it will lead you toward your destiny. Sometimes what seems wrong at the moment is really your best course in the long run and that course may be inspite of ourselves and what seems right to us at the moment.

[John Peterson]

Hello Java,

In answer to your question,


Let's take it in context. He states:

"I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!"


What he is saying is that he came to the realization that even though he was asking for almost the complete opposite of what he had received, that he had in fact been blessed with the right things. The things that truly matter.

---John Peterson

P.S. You went way back to find that one. Congratulations! It is a great poem.

[Max McKinley]

Thanks for posting this, John. It is timely indeed.

[talos1975]

We had a lady visit our church years ago who had been the first woman into Auschwitz after it was liberated. She said that many people asked her whether the atrocities and pain she had witnessed there were not a challenge to her faith. Her answer was always the same, she said 'when I entered that place and saw all the suffering, I knew then that I could never put my faith in humanity again.'

blessings,

Graham

[shamus23]

"What he is saying is that he came to the realization that even though he was asking for almost the complete opposite of what he had received, that he had in fact been blessed with the right things. The things that truly matter."


a simple prayer of gratitude

God thank you for everything that you have given me and everything that you will give me

Thank you everything that you haven't given me and everything that you won't give me

Amen