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

134- Empty handed

 

St-Takla.org Image: Open hand, empty. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: يد مفتوحة، فارغة.

When Alexander the great had reached 34 years in age, he had conquered almost all the world in his time. When he felt that his days were coming close to an end, he raised his eyes to those around him and said, “My days are close to ending, but I have one wish that I request of you to make it happen. Let my hand be stretched out of the coffin when I die so that the world may know that Alexander the great left the world empty handed.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: يد فارغة!

Naked, I came out of the womb of my mother, and naked I shall leave the world.

One day I shall leave and I will have nothing to carry with me.

Lord! Grant me that You become my only treasure.

You are my account in heaven,

My only account O my Savior, let me be with You in heaven.

Let my inner self be Yours, O Lord, here on earth that You become my eternal share.

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