Ship Wrecked
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only
two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert
like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do,
agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they
agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on
opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning,
the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the
land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s
parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to
pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked,
and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of
the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food.
The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him.
However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and
his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found
a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded
the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man
on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive
God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been
answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice
from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion
on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one
who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His
prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him.
“He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not
for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”
“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what
did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our
prayers alone, but those of another praying for us. Remember
this and always pray for others too!
- Author Unknown
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