Fw: Answered Prayers

> > > Answered Prayers > > > 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, agreed 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 > would 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." > > For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers > alone, but those of another praying for us. > > > > >Have a nice day