Pilgrim,

Thanks for commenting on these verses. And I do understand them in the context you presented... BUT I cannot help but consider them appropriate.

I have heard that in the past one might have prayed "Lord, thank you that I was born a Jew"... or "Lord, thank you that I wasn't born a woman"... when we know that Jesus said he can 'raise these stones' to be children of Abraham.

At what point might one thank the Lord that one was born chosen looking around the room. Yes, I know the response is we should always be thankful for every gift. I don't know where I'm going with this.