Our Father

OUR FATHER KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR US,
SO WHY SHOULD WE COMPLAIN-
WE ALWAYS WANT THE SUNSHINE,
BUT HE KNOWS THERE MUST BE RAIN-
WE LOVE THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER
AND THE MERRIMENT OF CHEER,
BUT OUR HEARTS WILL LOSE THEIR TENDERNESS
IF WE NEVER SHED A TEAR...
OUR FATHER TESTS US OFTEN
WITH SUFFERING AND WITH SORROW,
HE TESTS US, NOT TO PUNISH US,
BUT TO HELP US MEET TOMORROW...
FOR GROWING TREES ARE STRENGTHENED
WHEN THEY WITHSTAND THE STORM,
AND THE SHARP CUT OF THE CHISEL
GIVES THE MARBLE GRACE AND FORM...
GOD NEVER HURTS US NEEDLESSLY,
AND HE NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN,
FOR EVERY LOSS HE SENDS TO US
IS FOLLOWED BY RICH GAIN...
AND WHEN WE COUNT THE BLESSINGS
THAT GOD HAS SO FREELY SENT,
WE WILL FIND NO CAUSE FOR MURMURING
AND NO TIME TO LAMENT...
FOR OUR FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN,
AND TO HIM ALL THINGS ARE PLAIN,
SO HE NEVER SENDS US PLEASURE
WHEN THE SOULS DEEP NEED IS PAIN...
SO WHENEVER WE ARE TROUBLED,
AND WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG,
IT IS JUST GOD WORKING IN US
TO MAKE OUR SPIRIT STRONG.

{HELEN STEINER RICE}