"A hero is not fed on sweets; daily his own heart he eats!
"Chambers of the great are jails; and head winds right for Royal sails!" --Emerson
"For every hill I've had to climb, for every stone that bruised my feet, for all the blood and sweat and grime, for blinding storms and burning heat, my heart sings but a grateful song -- These were the things that made me strong!
"For all the heartaches and the tears, for all the anguish and the pain, for gloomy days and fruitless years, and for the hopes that lived in vain, I do give thanks, for now I know -- These were the things that helped me grow!" --Anonomous
"Hold steady when the fires burn, when inner lessons come to learn - And from this path there seems no turn; "Let Patience have her Perfect Work!" --L.S.P.
"My songs have been the songs of the daylight, of the sunshine of His face, of the hours of blest Communion, and the wonders of His grace.
"In my song has been unremembered the touch of His hand in my plight. Oh! how easy to sing in the sunshine -- He alone can give songs in the night!
"The weight of an awful darkness, hung over my soul like a pall; and everything round me seemed blackness -- no help but to struggle and fall.
"But treasures are found in the darkness, and riches are hidden in-store; and sorrow oft gives us a song to sing, unknown to us heretofore.
"Our God gives us songs in the midnight, when our feet are held fast in the stocks; and sends with the praises He giveth, the unloosing of bars and locks." --J. Lyall
"Why must I weep when others sing? (To test the deeps of suffering.)
"Why must I work while others rest? (To spend my strength at God's request.)
"Why must I lose while others gain? (To understand defeat's sharp pain.)
"Why must this lot of life be mine, when that which fairer seems is thine? (Because God knows what plans for me shall blossom in eternity!) --Anonymous
(Of all interrogatives, the question "why?" is the most impertinent!) (Envy wars against God's Will!)
PARADOX OF HEAVEN (A PARABLE)
"One day when walking down the street,
"on business bent, while thinking hard
"about the 'hundred cares' which seemed
"like thunder clouds about to break
"in torrents, Self-pity said to me:
"'You poor, poor thing, you have too much
"to do. Your life is far too hard.
"This heavy load will crush you soon.'
"A swift response of sumpathy
"welled up within. The burning sun
"seemed more intense. The dust and noise
"of puffing motors flying past
"with rasping blast of blowing horn
"incensed still more the whining nerves,
"that fabled last back-breaking straw
"to weary, troubled, fretting mind."
"'Ah, yes, 'twill break and crush my life;
"I cannot bear this constant strain
"of endless, aggravating cares;
"they are too great for such as I.'
"So thus my heart condoled itself,
"'enjoying misery!', when lo!
"a 'still small voice' distinctly said,
"'Twas sent to lift you - not to crush.'
"I saw at once my great mistake.
"My place was not beneath the load
"but on the top! God meant it not
"that I should carry it. He sent
"it here to carry me! Full well
"He knew my incapacity
"before the plan was made. He saw
"a child of His in need of grace
"and power to serve' a puny twig
"requiring sun and rain to grow;
"an undeveloped chrysalis;
"a weak soul lacking faith in God.
"He could not help but see all this
"and more. And then, with tender thought
"He placed it where it had to grow --
"or die. To live and cringe beneath
"one's load means death, but life and power
"await all those who dare to rise above.
"Our burdens are our wings; on them
"we soar to higher realms of grace;
"without them we must roam for aye
"on planes of undeveloped faith,
"(for faith grows but by exercise
"in circumstance impossible).
"Oh, paradox of Heaven. The load
"we think will crush was sent to lift us
"up to God! Then, soul of mine,
"climb up! -- for naught can e're be crushed
"save is underneath the weight.
"How we may climb! By what ascent
"shall we surmount the carping cares
"of life! Within His Word is found
"the key which opes His secret stairs;
"alone with Christ, secluded there,
"we mount our loads, and rest in Him." --Miss Mary Butterfield
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