124- The Happiest Man On Earth

Peter asked his father, who was known for his permanent happiness, “How would I know that I’m following the lord’s path?”

“The sign that you’re following the lord’s pass is to feel that you’re the happiest man on earth. You should feel that the moment you’re living now is the happiest moment because you’re carried on the eternal arms. You feel the touch of God’s hand which helped you in the past, is still helping you and will help you till it takes you to the bosom of the Father.”

Peter asked, “How would I feel that I’m the happiest man on earth when I feel uptight, knowing that my friends are richer and more talented than me?”

His father said, “I’ll tell you a well-known story.

A stone cutter returned home after dinner. He sat on an old chair lifting his eyes to heaven saying, “My Lord, why did You create me in a poor family which could not send me to school, or provide me with enough money to start a business? There are many people who don’t work as hard as I do yet they’re richer. Can’t You make me rich so I would be happy and glad?”

The stonecutter dreamt that while he was working in the mine he found a treasure. He became glad, hid the treasure and left the mine to start a new life.

He said, “God accepted my prayers and made me rich. I wish I asked for more.”

He lived with the rich and famous. One day he was invited to a royal party. Seeing what the king enjoyed of greatness, he wished to be king. He asked God to make him a king. God made him king and every body was paying respects to him. One day while he was walking in a royal parade, he felt the heat of the sun. He felt he was weak compared to the sun. He wished to be the sun so God granted him his wish. Then, a cloud came and masked the rays of the sun. The sun felt its weakness and wished to be a cloud. The sun became a cloud and turned to rain. Animals tried to escape from the rain. Birds left their nests looking for shelter. However, there was a strong rock that the rain could not harm. The cloud felt so small compared to the rock. The cloud turned to a strong rock. Suddenly, the stone cutter hit the rock with his axe. The rock felt so weak compared to the stonecutter and asked God to be a stonecutter. It was so and the stonecutter returned to his first condition.

The stonecutter got up from his sleep and gave thanks to God for making him a stonecutter, neither a rock, a cloud, the Sun, nor even a king or a rich man.

His life was changed to a life of praise and thanksgiving. He worked hard and encouraged his children to study joyfully.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: أسعد كائن على الأرض.

I praise You Lord,

Because You did not leave me in need of any thing.

Today is the best moment of my life.

I am the happiest man on earth.

You raised me from dust and opened gates of heaven for me.

You made me member in Your holy body and You gave me Your Holy Spirit.

What more can I ask for?

My soul glorifies You always.

I shall be glad in You,

You are my happiness.

Bless the Lord O my Soul

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

The Emperor and the Artist