Love Gifts (6 page)

Are lifted away on the wings of prayer.

It’s easy to say “In God we trust”

when life is radiant and fair,

But the test of faith is only found

when there are burdens to bear …

For our claim to faith in the

sunshine is really no faith at all,

For when roads are smooth and days

are bright our need for God is so small …

And no one discovers the fullness

or the greatness of God’s love

Unless they have walked in the darkness

with only a light from above …

For the faith to endure whatever

comes is born of sorrow and trials

And strengthened only by discipline

and nurtured by self-denials …

So be not disheartened by troubles,

for trials are the building blocks

On which to erect a fortress of faith,

secure on God’s ageless rocks.

I have prayed on my knees in the morning,

I have prayed as I walked along,

I have prayed in the silence and darkness,

and I’ve prayed to the tune of a song.

I have prayed in the midst of a triumph,

and I’ve prayed when I suffered defeat,

I have prayed on the sands of the seashore

where the waves of the ocean beat.

I have prayed in a velvet, hushed forest

where the quietness calmed my fears,

I have prayed through suffering and heartache

when my eyes were blinded with tears.

I have prayed in churches and chapels,

cathedrals and synagogues, too,

But often I had the feeling that my

prayers were not getting through …

And I realized then that our Father

is not really concerned when we pray

Or impressed by our manner of worship

or the eloquent words that we say.

He is only concerned with our feelings,

and He looks deep into our hearts

And hears the cry of our souls’ deep

need that no words could ever impart …

So it isn’t the prayer that’s expressive

or offered in some special spot,

That’s the sincere plea of a sinner,

and God can tell whether or not

We honestly seek His forgiveness

and earnestly mean what we say,

And then and then only God answers

the prayers that we fervently pray.

When life seems empty and there’s no place to go,

When you heart is troubled and your spirits are low,

When friends seem few and nobody cares,

There is always God to hear your prayers …

And whatever you’re facing will seem much less

When you go to God and confide and confess,

For the burden that seems too heavy to bear

God lifts away on the wings of prayer …

And seen through God’s eyes earthly troubles diminish

And we’re given new strength to face and to finish

Life’s daily tasks as they come along

If we pray for strength to keep us strong …

So go to our Father when troubles assail you,

For His grace is sufficient and He’ll never fail you.

Everybody, everywhere seeks happiness, it’s true,

But finding it and keeping it seem difficult to do,

Difficult because we think that happiness is found

Only in the places where wealth and fame abound—

And so we go on searching in “palaces of pleasure”

Seeking recognition and monetary treasure,

Unaware that happiness is just a “state of mind”

Within the reach of everyone who

takes time to be kind—

For in making others happy we will be happy, too,

For the happiness you give away returns

to “shine on you.”

The more you give, the more you get

The more you laugh, the less you fret.

The more you do unselfishly,

The more you live abundantly

The more of everything you share,

The more you’ll always have to spare.

The more you love, the more you’ll find

That life is good and friends are kind,

For only what we give away

Enriches us from day to day.

Friendship is a golden chain,

the links are friends so dear,

And like a rare and precious jewel,

it’s treasured more each year.

It’s clasped together firmly with

a love that’s deep and true,

And it’s rich with happy memories

and fond recollections, too.

For friendship is a priceless gift

that can’t be bought or sold,

And to have an understanding friend

is worth far more than gold …

And the golden chain of friendship

is a strong and blessed tie

Binding kindred hearts together

as the years go passing by.

Who said the darkness of the

night would never turn to day?

Who said the winter’s bleakness

would never pass away?

Who said the fog would never

lift and let the sunshine through?

Who said the skies, now overcast,

would nevermore be blue?

Why should we ever entertain these

thoughts so dark and grim

And let the brightness of our minds

grow cynical and dim

When we know beyond all questioning

that winter turns to spring

And on the notes of sorrow

new songs are made to sing?

For no one sheds a teardrop

or suffers loss in vain,

For God is always there to turn

our losses into gain …

And every burden borne today

and every present sorrow

Are but God’s happy harbingers

of a joyous, bright tomorrow.