by Grace Gems
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!” Ephesians 5:20
One day, Johann Tauler of Strosbourg met a peasant and greeted him, “God give you a good day, my friend!”
The peasant answered briskly, “I thank God that I never have a bad day!”
Tauler, astonished, kept silent for a moment. Tauler then added, “God give you a happy life, my friend.”
The peasant replied composedly, “I thank God that I am never unhappy!”
“Never unhappy!” cried Tauler bewildered, “What do you mean?”
“Well,” came the reply, “When it is sunshine–I thank God; and when it rains–I thank God. When I have plenty–I thank God; and when I am hungry–I thank God. Since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases God pleases me–I am never unhappy.”
Tauler looked upon him with awe. “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am a king!” said the peasant.
“A king?” Tauler asked, “Where is your kingdom?”
The peasant smiled and whispered softly, “In my heart!”
by Grace Gems
