Life's Richest Treasures

LIFE'S RICHEST TREASURES

by HELEN STEINER RICE



IT'S NOT THE THINGS THAT COST A LOT
THAT ARE LIFE'S RICHEST TREASURE,
IT'S PRICELESS LITTLE COURTESIES
THAT MONEY CANNOT MEASURE.
IT'S SOME GRACIOUS LITTLE GESTURE,
SOME KINDLY, LITTLE FAVOR
THAT FILLS THE HEART WITH GRATITUDE
AND ADDS THAT FRIENDLY FLAVOR.
AND IN SPITE OF LIFE'S VEXATIONS
AND IRRITATIONS TOO,IT'S HEART-WARMING
AND REFRESHING TO MEET NICE FOLKS LIKE YOU,
FOR PEOPLE OF THE KIND LIKE YOU
HELP MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING
AND GIVE US REASON IN THIS WORLD FOR
A BIT OF REAL THANKSGIVING.



YOU GIVE ME THINGS THAT CANNOT BE PURCHASED
WITH SILVER AND GOLD, FOR THOUGHTFULNESS AND
KINDNESS ARE NEVER BOUGHT OR SOLD.
H.S.R.





YOU HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE, O LORD,
LIKE SILVER IN A CRUCIBLE. YOU CAPTURED US
IN YOUR NET AND LAID GREAT BURDENS ON OUR BACKS.
YOU SENT TROOPS TO RIDE ACROSS OUR BROKEN BODIES.
WE WENT THROUGH FIRE AND FLOOD.
BUT IN THE END, YOU BROUGHT US
INTO WEALTH AND GREAT ABUNDANCE.



PSALM 66:10-12
TLB



YOU MADE ME SUFFER A LOT,
BUT YOU BRING ME
BACK FROM THIS DEEP PIT
AND GIVE ME NEW LIFE.
YOU WILL MAKE ME TRULY GREAT
AND TAKE MY SORROW AWAY.



PSALM 71:20-21
CEV



YOUR KINGDOM IS BUILT ON WHAT IS RIGHT AND FAIR.
LOVE AND TRUTH ARE IN ALL YOU DO.



PSALM 89:14
NCV



BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHASTENEST, O LORD,
AND TEACHEST HIM OUT OF THY LAW;
THAT THOU MAYEST GIVE HIM REST FROM THE DAYS OF ADVERSITY,
UNTIL THE PIT BE DIGGED FOR THE WICKED.



PSALM 94:12-13
KJV



MY DAYS ARE LIKE A SHADOW THAT DECLINETH;
AND I AM WITHERED LIKE GRASS.
BUT THOU, O LORD, SHALT ENDURE FOR EVER;
AND THY REMEMBRANCE UNTO ALL GENERATIONS.



PSALM 102:11-12