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.
Today's
Joy Was Born Of Yesterday's Sorrow
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!
Bend
In The Road
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.
