Our heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children, unless He means to give them something better instead. George Muller

An easy thing, O Power Divine,

To thank Thee for gifts of Thine!

For summer's sunshine, winter's snow,

For hearts that kindle, thoughts that glow;

But when shall I attain to this; to thank Thee for the things I miss?

For all young fancy's early gleams,

The dreamed - of joys that still are dreams,

Hope unfulfilled, and pleasures known

Through others' fortunes, not my own,

And blessings seen that are not given,

And ne'er will be-this side of heaven.

Had I, too, shared the joys I see,

Would there have been a heaven for me?

Could I have felt Thy presence near

Had I possessed what I held dear?

My deepest fortune, highest bliss,

Have grown, perchance, from things I miss.

Sometimes there comes an hour of calm;

Grief turns to blessing, pain to balm;

A Power that works above my will

Still leads me onward, upward still;

And then my heart attains to this:

To thank Thee for the things I miss.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Springs in the Valley - Mrs. Charels E. Cowman