Story 13

By the sea I saw a devout man who bore the wound of a leopard's claw, and no medicine could heal it. For a long time he suffered from it, yet he never stopped thanking God, the Mighty and Glorious. When they asked him, 'Why do you give thanks?' he said, 'I give thanks that I am struck by a misfortune and not by a sin.' If that dear beloved has me killed in agony, don't imagine that in that moment I would grieve for my life. I would say: what wrong came from this wretched servant that left my beloved's heart hurt? That is my only sorrow.