Gifts of Heaven · Volume 1 · Chapter 90

Birthday congratulations

30th November 1840, evening

[1] The following I let say through the servant to you, My very willing friend, Andr. H.-,,Willig", since I have found your will proven!

[2] People often wish each other all kinds of happiness, but it usually remains with the desire for worldly fashion, because it is not based on a true desire of love, but only a blind, worldly habit.

[3] Often one wishes the other (if things are still going well) all the "best" – in the certain conviction that nothing of all the wishes will come true. And in all his wishes, there is often not even a sun- dust of serious will, originating from true love – not to think of those courtly congratulations, which happen by means of the printed papers, which you call "visiting cards".

[4] If you ask why nothing successful ever comes out of such wishes, I say: Because the will-less wish is nothing but a hypocritical, flattering politeness of the cold worldly mind and thus a bare lie and absurd foolishness.

[5] How great a fool is man who speaks to a stone: Become gold! And see, such a gate would be only small to call against a congratulator who wishes his wished-for one "a thousand years of life", while he cannot extend his life also for a third and, secondly, would often like to see him already the next day under the earth to win something thereby. And so there is someone who wishes "happiness and blessings", and in his heart he is full of anger – or who wishes "health and cheerful days of life" and often hardly knows the sole Giver of such things by name. Or there finally is another one who speaks: "I wish you what you wish for yourself". Does this congratulator also know, whether all that what people wish for in their self-love, is good! And so the world congratulates itself constantly nonsensically in it's dark emptiness!

[6] But listen, it shall not be so with you! Instead of such foolishness, let My friends ask one another in My name, full of love in their hearts: "Brother, if you need my help in anything, tell me openly, and I will support you to the best of my strength and ability!" Do not say: "- if you so desire!" – but say that you yourself need it for the glory of God and the welfare of your spirit!

[7] And if the brother has confessed this to you, be willing to love and do it immediately, so you will refresh your brother's heart. And I, your Father, will have joy because of such laborious congratulation.

[8] And if you congratulate poor people in need of help, I will also look at your other congratulations, which you have to perform so as not to give offense to the world, with merciful, indulgent eyes.

[9] And so, instead of the empty desire, the full, strong will arises in the heart and instead of congratulation, pure, unselfish love – only then will you be completely human according to My will, which is My infinite love for you!

[10] Behold, you have already done many things that pleased Me, and therefore I have already given you a new name, which is recorded in the great book of life. And this name is a gift to you this day of your birth into earthly flesh as the name of your new birth in the spirit! But do all that has been said, so you will soon experience the great joy of rebirth!

[11] Behold, this is the nature of My congratulations! I "wish" nothing, but what I want or love, that I give or allow to happen. What would become of it, if I wanted to wish you life and let it remain only with the wish? But I do not merely wish, but I want – and so you live!

[12] But it is said that you should be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect. Well then, you also do as I, your Father, will and do! Even if you cannot do what I do in the infinite, do it in the

small! Then you will be like a small circle, which in all it's insignificance is completely equal to the great circle of My infinite Being.