There lived one man in the world, and he was very lonely and unhappy. And he prayed to God:
- Lord, I’m very lonely, I really need a friend! I ask You, send me a beautiful woman.
In response, God asked him:
“Why aren’t you asking for a cross for yourself?” The man got angry:
- Cross?! Another? Haven’t I carried the cross of loneliness and misfortune all my life? I don’t need any more cross, I only want a beautiful woman.
And the Lord gave this man a beautiful woman. Very little time passed, and he became even more unhappy than before: this woman brought him a lot of suffering and pain. And the man decided to get rid of her, dreaming of regaining his former loneliness and tranquility. Again he prayed to God:
- Lord, I ask You, send me a sharp sword. In response, God laughed:
- Why not a cross? Maybe it's time for you to accept your cross?
The man exclaimed:
“But this woman is worse than any cross!” I ask you, give me a sword!
And the Lord gave the man a sword. He killed his wife, he was captured and sentenced to crucifixion. And already on the cross, praying to God, he repeated:
- Forgive me, Lord! I didn’t listen to You, but You asked whether to send me a cross from the very beginning. If I had listened, I would have gotten rid of all this unnecessary fuss.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru