Love Gifts (4 page)

Happiness is something we create in our minds,

It’s not something you search for and so seldom find.

It’s just waking up and beginning the day

By counting our blessings and kneeling to pray.

It’s giving up thoughts that breed discontent

And accepting what comes as a gift heaven-sent.

It’s giving up wishing for things we have not

And making the best of whatever we’ve got.

It’s knowing that life is determined for us

And pursuing our tasks without fret, fume, or fuss …

For it’s by completing what God gives us to do

That we find real contentment and happiness, too.

Thank You, God, for everything—

the big things and the small—

For every good gift comes from

God, the Giver of them all,

And all too often we accept

without any thanks or praise

The gifts God sends as blessings

each day in many ways.

And so at this time we offer up a prayer

To thank You, God, for giving

us a lot more than our share.

First, thank You for the little

things that often come our way—

The things we take for granted

and don’t mention when we pray—

The unexpected courtesy,

the thoughtful, kindly deed,

A hand reached out to help us

in the time of sudden need.

Oh make us more aware,

dear God, of little daily graces

That come to us with sweet surprise

from never-dreamed-of places.

Then thank You for the miracles

we are much too blind to see,

And give us new awareness of

our many gifts from Thee.

And help us to remember that

the key to life and living

Is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks

and each day a day of thanksgiving.

In spite of the fact we complain and lament

And view this old world with much discontent,

Deploring conditions and grumbling because

There’s so much injustice and so many flaws,

It’s a wonderful world, and it’s people like you

Who make it that way by the things that they do.

For a warm, ready smile or a kind, thoughtful deed

Or a hand outstretched in an hour of need

Can change our whole outlook and make the world bright

Where a minute before just nothing seemed right.

It’s a wonderful world and it always will be

If we keep our eyes open and focused to see

The wonderful things man is capable of

When he opens his heart to God and His love.

It’s amazing and incredible,

but it’s as true as it can be—

God loves and understands us all,

and that means you and me.

His grace is all-sufficient for

both the young and old,

For the lonely and the timid,

for the brash and for the bold.

His love knows no exceptions,

so never feel excluded,

No matter who or what you are,

your name has been included …

And no matter what your past has

been, trust God to understand,

And no matter what your problem is,

just place it in His hand …

For in all our unloveliness this

great God loves us still—

He loved us since the world began,

and what’s more, He always will!

You are ushering in another day,

untouched and freshly new,

So here I am to ask You, God,

if You’ll renew me, too …

Forgive the many errors

that I made yesterday

And let me try again, dear God,

to walk closer in Thy way …

But, Father, I am well aware

I can’t make it on my own,

So take my hand and hold it

tight for I can’t walk alone.

There are always two sides—the good and the bad,

The dark and the light, the sad and the glad …

But in looking back over the good and the bad,

We’re aware of the number of good things we’ve had,

And in counting our blessings,

we find when we’re through

We’ve no reason at all to complain or be blue …

So thank God for the good things

He has already done,

And be grateful to Him for the battles you’ve won,

And know that the same God who helped you before

Is ready and willing to help you once more,

Then with faith in your heart,

reach out for God’s hand

And accept what He sends,

though you can’t understand …

For our Father in heaven always knows what is best,

And if you trust His wisdom,

your life will be blessed …

For always remember that whatever betide you,

You are never alone, for God is beside you.

As we travel down life’s busy road

Complaining of our heavy load,

We often think God’s been unfair

And gave us much more than our share

Of daily little irritations

And disappointing tribulations.

We’re discontented with our lot

And all the bad breaks that we got.

We count our losses not our gain,

And remember only tears and pain.

The good things we forget completely,

When God looked down and blessed us sweetly.

Our troubles fill our every thought,

We dwell upon the goals we sought,

And wrapped up in our own despair,

We have no time to see or share

Another’s load that far outweighs

Our little problems and dismays …

And so we walk with heads held low,

And little do we guess or know

That someone near us on life’s street

Is burdened deeply with defeat,

And if we’d but forget our care

And stop in sympathy to share

The burden that our brother carried,

Our minds and hearts would be less harried

And we would feel our load was small—

In fact, we carried no load at all.

Fathers are wonderful people

too little understood,

And we do not sing their praises

as often as we should …

For, somehow, Father seems to

be the man who pays the bills,

While Mother binds up little

hurts and nurses all our ills …

And Father struggles daily

to live up to “his image”

As protector and provider

and “hero of the scrimmage” …

And perhaps that is the reason