~Unaware , We Pass Him By

On life's busy thoroughfares
We meet with angels unawares~

But we are too busy to listen or hear,
Too busy to sense that God is near,

Too busy to stop and recognize
The grief that lies in another's eyes.

Too busy to offer to help or share,
Too busy to sympathize or care,

Too busy to do the good things we should,
Telling ourselves we would if we could....

But life is too swift and the pace is too great
And we dare not pause for we might be late

For our next appointment, which means so much
We are willing to brush off the Savior's touch,

And we tell ourselves there will come a day
We will have more time to pause on our way...

But before we know it life's sun has set
And we've passed the Savior but never met,

For hurrying along life's thoroughfare
We passed Him by ad remained unaware

That within the very sight of our eye,
Unnoticed, the Son of God passed by.

~Helen Steiner Rice

~A Sure Way To A Happy Day

Happiness is something
we create in our mind,

It's not something we search for
and so seldom find--

It's just waking up
and beginning the day

By counting our blessings
and kneeling to pray--

It's giving up thoughts
that breed discontent

And accepting what comes
as a "gift heaven-sent" --

It's giving up wishing
for things we have not

And making the best of
whatever we've got --

It's knowing that life
is determined for us

And pursuing our tasks
without fret, lume, or fuss--

For it's by completing
what God gives us to do

That we find real contentment
and happiness too.

~Helen Steiner Rice