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[dawnnnny]

I ran across this poem by Helen Steiner Rice and thought you would enjoy it....seems she had hold of some spiritual wisdom

God Knows Best

Our Father knows what's 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 would 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
Give 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 send us pleasure
When the soul's 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's strong

[Sue Creamer]

Dawn,

I really really like this...and it is so true!!!  Thanks for posting it.

peace, love
Sue Ann

[Beloved]

Hi Dawn Did you know we have a section just for poetry?

Here is a story to go along with your poem, Some of you may have heard it before

The Penny

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husba! nd's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.  He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words "United States of America"  "No, not that; read further."  "One cent?" "No, keep reading."  "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?

When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I got back home was out shopping , I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We! Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!  And, God is patient...

Beloved

[dawnnnny]

Sue Ann, glad you liked it.  I love her work.

Beloved, no I didn't know there was a special place for poems, I will have to remember that next time.  And thank you for the penny story, it was very special