Lovely book of poems

My dad gave my mum a book full of lovely christian poems when he was very much still deeply in love.. not that he isnt now.. its just that.. argh.. you know what i mean... the book's ancient now..


I


The Praying Hands

The "Praying Hands" are much, much more
than just a work of art,
They are the "soul's creation"
of a deeply thankful heart --
They are a Priceless Masterpiece
that love alone could paint,
And they reveal the selflessness
of an unheralded saint --
These hands so scarred and toilworn,
tell the story of a man
Who sacrificed his talent
in accordance with God's Plan --
For in God's Plan are many things
man cannot understand,
But we must trust God's judgement
and be guided by His Hand --
Sometimes He asks us to give up
our dreams of happiness,
Sometimes we must forego our hopes
of fortune and success --
Not all of us can truimph
or rise to heights of fame,
And many times What Should Be Ours,
goes to Another Name --
But he who makes a sacrifice,
so another may succeed,
Is indeed a true disciple
of our blessed Saviour's creed --
For when we "give ourselves away"
in sacrifice and love,
We are "laying up rich treasures"
in God's kingdom up above --
And hidden in gnarled, tiolworn hands
is the truest Art of Living,
Achieved alone by those who've learned
the "Victory of Giving" --
For any sacrifice on earth,
made in the dear Lord's Name,
Assures the giver of a place
in Heaven's Hall of Fame --
And who can say with certainty
Where the Greatest Talent Lies
Or Who Will Be the Greatest
In Our Heavenly Father's Eyes!




III


The Palestinian Seas


A very favourite story of mine
Is about Two Seas in Palestine--
. . .
One is a sparkling sapphire jewel,
its waters clean and clear and cool,
Along its shores the children play
And travelers seek it on their way,
And natures gives so lavishly
Her choicest gems to the Galilee...
But on to the south the Jordan flows
Into a sea where nothing grows,
No splash of fish, no singing bird,
No children's laughter
is ever heard,
The air hangs heavy all around
And nature shuns this barren ground...
Both seas receive the Jordan's flow,
The water is the same, we know,
But one of the seas, like liquid sun,
Can warm the hearts of everyone,
While farther south another sea
Is dead and dark and miserly--
It takes each drop the Jordan brings
And to each drop it fiercely clings...
It hoards and holds the Jordan's waves
Until like shackled, captured slaves
The fresh, clear Jordan turns to salt
And dies within the Dead Sea's vault...
But the Jordan flows on rapturously
As it enters and leaves the Galilee,
For every drop that the Jordan gives
Becomes a laughing wave
that lives --
For the Galilee gives back each drop,
Its waters flow and never stop,
And in this laughing, living sea
That takes and gives so generously
We find the way to Life and Living
Is not in Keeping, but in Giving!
. . .
Yes, there are Two Palestinian Seas
And mankind is fashioned after these!




Just For You
a collection of inspirational verses by
HELEN STEINER RICE


* tRUST & OBey the LORD *