118. On the Side of God (Japanese title: Kami no hō ni wa)
Kunisaburo Moroi returned to Jiba for the first time on February 10, 1883. When he was granted an audience with Oyasama, She said to him:
“Put your hand down like this,”
indicating how by putting Her own hand on the tatami-mat with the palm down. When he did exactly as he was told, Oyasama bent her two middle fingers, and with Her index and little fingers, pinched the back of his hand, pulling up the skin. Then She said:
“Pull your hand. Try to free it.”
He tried to free his hand, but he only made it hurt. He finally said, “I am overwhelmed.” Then Oyasama said:
“Hold My wrist.”
She let him grasp Her wrist. Oyasama then grasped his. Clasping each other’s wrists, Oyasama said:
“Put your strength behind it.”
And She added:
“Stop if I say ouch, all right?”
Then he squeezed Her wrist, but the harder he squeezed, the more his wrist hurt. Oyasama said:
“You do not have any more strength, do you?”
His hand ached more and more as he clutched harder. So he said again, “I am overwhelmed.” Then Oyasama released Her hold and said:
“You really do not have any more strength? Twice as much strength is on the side of God.”
Anecdotes of Oyasama, pp. 97-98