A Thankful Heart

A THANKFUL HEART

by HELEN STEINER RICE



TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED,
FOR WHENEVER YOU DO
THE JOY OF ENJOYING IS LESSENED FOR YOU
FOR WE ROB OUR OWN LIVES
MUCH MORE THAN WE KNOW
WHEN WE FAIL TO RESPOND
OR IN ANY WAY SHOW
OUR THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS
THAT DAILY ARE OURS,
THE WARMTH OF THE SUN,
THE FRAGRANCE OF FLOWERS,
THE BEAUTY OF TWILIGHT,
THE FRESHNESS OF DAWN,
THE COOLNESS OF DEW
ON A GREEN VELVET LAWN,
THE KIND LITTLE DEEDS
SO THOUGHTFULLY DONE,
THE FAVORS OF FRIENDS
AND THE LOVE THAT SOMEONE
UNSELFISHLY GIVES US IN MYRIAD WAYS,
EXPECTING NO PAYMENT AND
NO WORDS OF PRAISE,
OH, GREAT IS OUR LOSS WHEN
WE NO LONGER FIND
A THANKFUL RESPONSE
TO THINGS OF THIS KIND,
FOR THE JOY OF ENJOYING
AND THE FULLNESS OF LIVING
ARE FOUND IN THE HEART THAT IS
FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING.





FOR A DAY IN OUR COURTS IS BETTER THAN A
THOUSAND OUTSIDE.
I WOULD RATHER STAND AT THE
THRESHOLD OF THE HOUSE OF MY GOD,
THAN DWELL IN THE TENTS OF WICKEDNESS.



PSALM 84:10
NAS



HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH
WILL REST IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.



PSALM 91:1
NIV



THE LORD IS YOUR KEEPER;
THE LORD IS YOUR SHADE AT YOUR RIGHT HAND.
THE SUN SHALL NOT STRIKE YOU BY DAY,
NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT.



PSALM 121:5-6
NRSV



THE DAY IS THINE,
THE NIGHT ALSO IS THINE:
THOU HAS PREPARED THE LIGHT AND THE SUN.



PSALM 74:16
KJV



SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART;
TRY ME, AND KNOW MY ANXIETIES.



PSALM 139:23
NKJV



O LORD, YOU HAVE EXAMINED MY HEART AND
KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME. YOU KNOW WHEN
I SIT OR STAND. WHEN FAR AWAY YOU KNOW
MY EVERY THOUGHT.



PSALM 139:1-2
TLB



YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.



EXODUS 20:3
NIV