Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It’s then I have to remember

That it’s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God’s love

And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing

My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing

When I picture Christ on the cross,

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I’m feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it’s in the valleys I grow!

Alone with none but Thee, my God,

I journey on my way.

What need I fear, when Thou art near

O King of night and day?

More safe I am within Thy hand

Than if a host did round me stand.

www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a248.html

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Grant, O Lord, that none may love thee less this day because of me; that never word or act of mine may turn one soul from thee; and ever daring, yet one other grace would I implore, that many souls this day, because of me, may love thee more.

Ascribed to Saint Francis of Assisi

* * * * * * * * * * * *

PRAYER OF ST. MAXIMILLIAN KOLBE
(The Power Of Prayer.)

The day was long, 
The burden I had borne
Seemed heavier than I could longer bear
And then it lifted-but I did not know
Some one had knelt in prayer;

Had taken me to God that very hour,
And asked the easing of the load, and He,
In infinite compassion, had stooped down
And taken it from me.
We cannot tell how often as we pray
For some bewildered one, 
Hurt and distressed,
The answer comes, 
But many times those hearts Find sudden peace and rest.
Some one had prayed, and Faith, a reaching hand,
Took hold of God, and brought Him down that day!
So many, many hearts have need of prayer.
Oh, let us pray!