Words of Encouragement

Thank You, God for Everything

By Helen Steiner Rice

 

Thank You God, for everything--

the big things and the small--

For every good gift comes from God,

the Giver of them all,

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--

Oh, makes us more aware, dear God,

of little daily graces

That comes to us with sweet surprise

from never-dreamed-of places…

And help us to remember that

they key to life and living

is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks

and every day Thanksgiving.

Why God Made Fathers

The below poem was written by a lady named Katherine Nelson Davis.

Why God Made Fathers

God knew that children all would need

Someone secure and strong

To shelter and protect them

And to teach them right from wrong.

A person to take pride in

Throughout their growing years,

Someone to laugh at childhood jokes

And to comfort childhood tears;

That’s why God made fathers.

God knew all children needed

Someone to be their guide,

To count on and look up to

And in whom they could confide;

He knew as they grew up

They’d need the reassurance of

Someone with faith and trust in them

Who would always give them love;

That’s why God made fathers.

"Footprints in the Sand"

One Night I had a dream....

I dreamed that I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes of my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of foot prints in the sand. One belonged to me, the other to the Lord. When the last scene flashed before us, I looked back at the foot prints in the sand; I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of prints; I also noticed it happened at the saddest and lowest times of my life. This worried me that I questioned the Lord about it. 

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but now I find that during the most troubled part of my life there is only one set of footprints. I can understand why in times I needed you most you would leave me alone." 

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you and would never, never leave you alone during the darkest hour of need. When you see only one set of foot prints, it was then that I carried you in my arms."