Lewis' conversation with God

“God, my mother has told me not to make any complaints against anybody. But I am sorry, I have to. You know God, my mother scolds me very often and my sister strikes me almost every day. I am sure they are not doing the right things. What do You say, God?”

“Tell your sister and mother to speak to Me before they strike or scold you.”

“Yes, yes, I shall do that. That means my sister will never be able to strike me. Neither will my mother be able to scold me.”

“My child, it is not exactly so. Let Me tell you My secrets. When they ask Me for My permission to strike or scold you, I shall see first whether you deserve it or not. If you don’t deserve it, I shall strike and scold them badly. But if you deserve their scoldings and strikings, I shall give you enough strength and cheerfulness to eat the fruits of your wrong actions. I want you to be nice, good, perfect and divine.”

“God, I shall be. Thanks and thanks, God.”

Sri Chinmoy, Children's conversations with God, Sri Chinmoy Lighthouse, New York, 1971