Monk and olive tree
The tree was saturated with moisture, and the monk continued to pray: "And now, Lord, I ask you to send a lot of sun - my tree needs warmth." And the Lord sent the sun.
The tree kept growing. The monk went on praying for it: "Lord, send a little cold to strengthen the roots and branches." The Lord sent frost and ... the tree died.
The monk was very upset. He went to another monk to tell his story and share his sorrow.
"I also have an olive tree, look," replied another monk. His tree had grown well. "But I prayed differently, I told God that He is the Creator of this tree and therefre better knows what is needed for it." I simply asked God to take care of the tree, and He does it. "
This also applies to us. We often ask for what, in our opinion, we need. But only the Lord knows what we need. Trust Him completely!
Read also
"Wait?! Constantine is a saint!?!"
A reflection on Emperor Constantine by Archpriest Justin Patterson.
Life and Sayings of St. Joseph of Optina
“I believe that all who visit Optina Hermitage in their deepest need will find solace, by God's mercy and the prayers of our great fathers, Leonid, Macarius, and Ambrose." —St. Joseph of Optina
Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker to Bari, Italy
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia is one of the most beloved and widely venerated saints in the history of the Orthodox Church
Televangelists and the Decline of Christianity in America
While we often blame secularism and pop culture, we should recognize the role of American Christianity in its own decline.
Mladenici – Serbian holiday on the day of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, who were soldiers of the Roman Emperor Liquini. When the re-estrands of Christians were born, forty of them did not want to deny Christ.
New martyrs of the 20th century: Hieromartyr Alexander of Kharkov
He was ordained to the priesthood relatively late, at the age of 49, and his episcopal ministry took place during the difficult 1930s. But all of this might never have happened...