The Gift Of Lasting Love

THE GIFT OF LASTING LOVE

by HELEN STEINER RICE



LOVE IS MUCH MORE THAN A TENDER CARESS
AND MORE THAN BRIGHT HOURS OF GAY
HAPPINESS,
FOR A LASTING LOVE IS MADE UP OF SHARING
BOTH HOURS THAT ARE "JOYOUS" AND ALSO
"DESPAIRING"...
IT'S MADE UP OF PATIENCE AND
DEEP UNDERSTANDING
AND NEVER OF SELFISH AND STUBBORN
DEMANDING,
IT'S MADE UP OF "CLIMBING THE STEEP HILLS
TOGETHER"
AND FACING WITH COURAGE "LIFE'S STORMIEST
WEATHER"...
AND NOTHING ON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN CAN PART
A LOVE THAT HAS GROWN TO BE PART OF THE
HEART,
AND JUST LIKE THE SUN AND THE STARS AND THE SEA,
THIS LOVE WILL GO ON THROUGH ETERNITY-
FOR "TRUE LOVE" LIVES ON WHEN EARTHLY THINGS DIE,
FOR IT'S PART OF THE SPIRIT THAT SOARS TO THE "SKY."







CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART, O GOD,
AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME.



PSALM 51:10
NIV



SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVINGKINDNESS WILL
FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.



PSALM 23:6
NAS



FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IN THY SIGHT
ARE BUT AS YESTERDAY WHEN IT IS PAST,
AND AS A WATCH IN THE NIGHT.



PSALM 90:4
KJV



HOLD ME UP, THAT I MAY BE SAFE
AND HAVE REGARD FOR YOUR
STATUTES CONTINUALLY.



PSALM 119:117
NRSV



O GOD MY STRENGTH! I WILL SING
YOUR PRAISES, FOR YOU ARE MY
PLACE OF SAFETY.



PSALM 59:9
TLB



MY GOD IS CHANGELESS IN HIS LOVE
FOR ME AND HE WILL COME AND HELP
ME. HE WILL LET ME SEE MY WISH
COME TRUE UPON MY ENEMIES.



PSALM 59:10
TLB