Overcoming

All the world is full of suffering.


It is also full of overcoming.

- Helen Keller

All You Were Intended to Be

Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter.


They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.

- Charles "Tremendous" Jones

The Thorn

by Martha Snell Nicholson

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”

He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.