February 11 - Poem

God Knows Best

By Helen Steiner Rice

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 a 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 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 strong.