When You Receive Nothing You Asked For...And Everything You Needed

A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Dr. Colleen Hanycz on 1/25/21 upon her selection as the 35th president of Xavier University. 

Loving Creator,
We asked for strength, and you gave us difficulties to make us strong.
We asked for wisdom, and you gave us problems to solve.
We asked for prosperity, and you gave us purpose and brains to use.
We asked for courage, and you gave us fears to overcome.
We asked for patience, and you gave us situations where we were forced to wait.
We asked for love, and you gave us troubled people to help.
We asked for justice, and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity.

Lord, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted.

And yet, we received everything that we needed.
For this, we give thanks.