A CHILD'S FAITH

"Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the BIBLE tells me so"
Little children ask no more,
For love is all they're looking for.
And in a small child's shining eyes
The FAITH of all the ages lies-
And tiny hands and tousled heads
That kneel in prayer by little beds
Are closer to the dear Lord's heart
And of His Kingdom more a part
Than we who search, and never find,
The answers to our questioning mind
For FAITH in things we cannot see
Requires a child's simplicity
For, lost in life's complexities.
We drift upon uncharted seas
And slowly FAITH disintegrates
While wealth and power accumulates-
And the more man learns, the less he knows,
and the more involved his thinking grows
and , in his arrogance and pride,
No longer is man satisfied
To place his confidence and love
With childlike FAITH in God above-
Oh, Father, grant once more to men
A simple childlike FAITH again
And, with a small child's Trusting eyes,
May all men come to realize
That Faith alone can save man's soul
And lead him to a higher goal.

Helen Steiner Rice

YOUR NAME

You got it from your father, 'twas the best he had to give.
And right gladly he bestowed it. It's yours, the while you live.

You may lose the watch he gave you and another you may claim.
But remember, when you're tempted, be careful of his name.

It was fair the day you got it, and a worthy name to bear.
When he took it from his father, there was no dishonor there.

Through the years he proudly wore it, to his father he was true.
And that name was clean and spotless when he passed it on to you.

Oh, there's much that he has given that he values not at all.
He has watched you break your playthings in the days when you
were small.

You have lost the knife he gave you and you've scattered many a
game,
But you'll never hurt your father if you're careful with his name.

It's yours to wear forever, yours to wear while you live,
Yours, perhaps, some distant morning, another boy to give.

And you'll smile as did your father - with a smile that all can share.
If a clean name and a good name you are giving him to wear.

Edgar A. Guest

AT THE DOOR

He wiped his shoes before his door,
But ere he entered he did more;
'Twas not enough to cleanse his feet
Of dirt they'd gathered in the street;
He stood and dusted off his mind
And left all trace of care behind.
"In here I will not take," said he,
"The stains the day has brought to me.

"Beyond this door shall never go
The burdens that are mine to know;
The day is done, and here I leave
The petty things that vex and grieve;
What clings to me of hate and sin
To them I will not carry in;
Only the good shall go with me
For their devoted eyes to see.

"I will not burden them with cares,
Nor track the home with grim affairs;
I will not at my table sit
With soul unclean, and mind unfit;
Beyond this door I will not take
The outward signs of inward ache;
I will not take a dreary mind
Into this house for them to find."

He wiped his shoes before his door,
But paused to do a little more.
He dusted off the stains of strife,
The mud that's incident to life,
The blemishes of careless thought,
The traces of the fight he'd fought,
The selfish humors and the mean,
And when he entered he was clean.

Edgar Guest

WHEN I HAVE TIME

When I have time so many things I'll do
To make life happier and more fair
For those whose lives are crowded now with care
I'll help to lift them from their low despair
When I have time.

When I have time the friend I love so well
Shall know no more these weary toiling days;
I'll lead her feet in pleasant paths always
And cheer her heart with words of sweetest praise
When I have time.

When you have time! The friend you hold so dear
May be beyond the reach of all your sweet intent
May never know that you so kindly meant
To fill her life with sweet content
When you had time.

Now is the time! Ah, friend, no longer wait
To scatter living smiles and words of cheer
To those around whose lives are now so dear;
They may not need you in the coming year -
Now is the time!

Unknown