252- I Lost Everything

After having lost all his wealth in a stock market transaction, Mark returned home too upset to talk to anyone. Seeing him sitting miserably in his chair, and unable to speak with his family, his wife told their children that they should support their father in his feelings since they always enjoyed the fruit of his labour. One by one they went and sat around him.

His wife then said to him, “Don’t be upset Mark. God who has given you abundantly has permitted that some be taken back from you. Let’s thank Him for taking care of us.”

After a moment of silence, Mark said angrily, “I’ve lost everything; I don’t have a dime left to my name.”

His wife smiled saying, “But you still have me; how can you say that you lost everything? Am I not better than any wealth?”

His son and daughter then said, “You also have us and you have your health. Aren’t these blessings better than all the riches of the world?”

Then the wife and children added, “You still have two strong hands to work with, two feet to carry you wherever you go and two eyes to see.”

The youngest child finally said, “God has left you His true promises; He’s our righteous Father who is with us and who satisfies all our needs. Let us sing with the Psalmist,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Ps. 103.2).

Mark felt ashamed and said, “Now I know that I haven’t lost everything, but what I lost is nothing compared to what my God has bestowed upon me.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: قد خسرت كل شيء.

Glorify the Lord O my soul,

And forget not all His blessings.

I am indebted to my Creator for my soul,

And to my Saviour for every inner glory.

My soul will praise You for the rest of my years in this life,

Until I see You, then I shall join the heavenly hosts in their praise of You.

As long as I have You, I lose nothing,

Even if I lose the whole world, even death makes me see You face to face.

The Prince of Norway

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

A Sacrifice of Love