Today's Joy Was Born Of Yesterday's Sorrow

Enjoy these two inspiring poems Today's Joy Was Born Of Yesterday's Sorrow and Bend In The Road by Helen Steiner Rice.

As one America’s most beloved inspirational poets, Helen Steiner Rice has helped many people get through difficult times with her sensitive, encouraging poems. Her own suffering in life not only deepened her connection to God but allowed her to understand the pain of others.

Helen Steiner was born in Lorain, Ohio, on May 19, 1900. She had originally hoped to pursue a career in law, but upon her father's untimely death, in order to help her family financially, Helen took a position in a company constructing silk lampshades. There she discovered her talent for advertising and public relations and after receiving several promotions, rose to become one of the few female advertising managers in the country.

In 1929, Helen married Franklin Rice, a bank vice-president who committed suicide 3 years later because of bad investments he made in the stock market. To support herself, Helen Rice accepted a position as editor of greeting cards and dedicated the next fifty years of her life writing greeting card verses. She became known as the "Poet Laureate of Inspirational Verse". Helen Steiner Rice died in 1981.

Now several decades after her death, Helen’s poetry with its grace and simplicity still touches the hearts of many. Her words about love and loss, faith and hope, sadness and joy strike a chord with those who are going through a difficult time. Here are two of her uplifting poems for your enjoyment.

Would never turn to day ... Who said the "winter's bleakness" Would never pass away ... Who said the fog would never lift And let the sunshine through ... Who said the skies now overcast Would nevermore be blue ... Why should we ever entertain These thoughts so dark and grim And let the brightness of our mind Grow cynical and dim ... When we know beyond all questioning That winter turns to spring ... And on the notes of sorrow New songs are made to sing ... For no one sheds a teardrop Or suffers loss in vain, For God is always there to turn Our losses into gain. And every burden born TODAY And every present sorrow Are but God's happy harbingers Of a joyous, bright TOMORROW!

When we feel we have nothing left to give And we are sure that the song has ended, When our day seems over and the shadows fall And the darkness of night has descended, Where can we go to find the strength To valiantly keep on trying? Where can we find the hand that will dry The tears that the heart is crying? There's but one place to go and that is to God, And dropping all pretence and pride, We can pour out our problems without restraint And gain strength with Him at our side. And together we stand at life's cross roads And view what we think is the end, But God has a much bigger vision, And He tells us it's only a bend. For the road goes on and is smoother, And the pause in the song is a rest, And the part that's unsung and unfinished Is the sweetest and richest and best. So rest and relax and grow stronger Let go and let God share your load. Your work is not finished or ended You've just come to a bend in the road.