Love Gifts (5 page)

we sometimes get the notion

That fathers are not subject

to the thing we call emotion,

But if you look inside Dad’s heart,

where no one else can see,

You’ll find he’s sentimental

and as “soft” as he can be …

But he’s so busy every day

in the grueling race of life,

He leaves the sentimental stuff

to his partner and his wife …

But fathers are just wonderful

in a million different ways,

And they merit loving compliments

and accolades of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires

to fortune and success

Is to make the family proud of him

and to bring them happiness …

And like our heavenly Father,

he’s a guardian and a guide

Someone that we can count on

to be always on our side.

I meet God in the morning and

go with Him through the day,

Then in the stillness of the night

before sleep comes I pray

That God will just take over all

the problems I couldn’t solve,

And in the peacefulness of

sleep my cares will all dissolve.

So when I open up my

eyes to greet another day,

I’ll find myself renewed in strength

and there will open up a way

To meet what seemed impossible

for me to solve alone,

And once again I’ll be assured

I am never on my own.

For if we try to stand alone we

are weak and we will fall,

For God is always greatest when

we’re helpless, lost, and small,

And no day is unmeetable if

on rising our first thought

Is to thank God for the blessings

that His loving care has brought …

For there can be no failures,

or hopeless unsaved sinners

If we enlist the help of God

who makes all losers winners …

So meet Him in the morning and

go with Him through the day

And thank Him for His guidance

each evening when you pray,

And if you follow faithfully

this daily way to pray

You will never in your lifetime

face another “hopeless day.”

My garden beautifies my yard and

adds fragrance to the air,

But it is also my cathedral and

my quiet place of prayer.

So little do we realize that

the glory and the power

Of Him who made the universe

lies hidden in a flower!

Thank You, God, for little things

that often come our way—

The things we take for granted

but 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.

We cannot all be famous or

be listed in “Who’s Who,”

But every person, great or small,

has important work to do …

For seldom do we realize the

importance of small deeds

Or to what degree of greatness

unnoticed kindness leads …

For it’s not the big celebrity in

a world of fame and praise,

But it’s doing unpretentiously

in undistinguished ways

The work that God assigned to us,

unimportant as it seems,

That makes our task outstanding

and brings reality to dreams …

So do not sit and idly wish for

wider, new dimensions

Where you can put in practice

your many good intentions,

But at the spot God placed you,

begin at once to do

Little things to brighten up the

lives surrounding you …

For if everybody brightened up the

spot on which they’re standing

By being more considerate and a

little less demanding,

This dark old world would very

soon eclipse the evening star

If everybody brightened up the

corner where they are.

Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,

Laughter and teardrops, pleasure and pain—

Low tides and high tides, mountains and plains,

Triumphs, defeats, and losses and gains—

But always in all ways God’s guiding and leading

And He alone knows the things we’re most needing—

And when He sends sorrow or some dreaded affliction

Be assured that it comes with God’s kind benediction—

And if we accept it as a gift of His love,

We’ll be showered with blessings from our Father above.

The farmer plows through the fields of green,

And the blade of the plow is sharp and keen,

But the seed must be sown to bring forth grain,

For nothing is born without suffering and pain,

And God never plows in the soul of man

Without intention and purpose and plan …

So whenever you feel the plow’s sharp blade

Let not your heart be sorely afraid,

For like the farmer, God chooses a field

From which He expects an excellent yield …

So rejoice though your heart be broken in two—

God seeks to bring forth a rich harvest in you.

Just close your eyes and open your heart

And feel your cares and worries depart.

Just yield yourself to the Father above

And let Him hold you secure in His love …

For life on earth grows more involved

With endless problems that can’t be solved,

But God only asks us to do our best,

Then He will take over and finish the rest …

So when you are tired, discouraged, and blue,

There’s always one door that is opened to you

And that is the door to the house of prayer,

And you’ll find God waiting to meet you there …

And the house of prayer is no farther away

Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.

For the heart is a temple when God is there

As we place ourselves in His loving care …

And He hears every prayer and answers each one

When we pray in His name, “Thy will be done.”

And the burdens that seemed too heavy to bear