Copyright ©Tricia Hague-Barrett 1993

We must  recognize that under duress,
great things are born.
Diamonds form in molten rock.
Gold is tested in the fire.
The sweetest flowers of man’s spirit
have often been watered by tears.  
To struggle gives strength,
to endure breeds greater capacity for endurance.  
We must not run away from the heart-breaks in life;
we must go through them,
however fiery they may be,
and bring with us out of the fire
a stronger character,
a deeper reliance on ourselves
and on the Creator Who,
like a good parent, chastises us
because He loves us,
and realize that the pain is worth  
the prize that can be won.  
This is indeed a power world,
and great forces are at play,
the sun, the wind, the rain,
night and day,
they are big things
powerful things,
making powerful changes in the land,
removing old scars,
bringing new ones.  
Electricity, gravitation,
are strong forces forging the earth
with all its beauty it’s life its growth.  
We human beings
are subjected to strong forces too,
love, hate, passion, fear, sorrow, pain,
each acting on us, spurring us on,
developing those qualities giving us colour,
individuality.
Why should we want to shun and abolish
factors that bring out the best in us?  
That tempers our steel?  
Teaching us to value happiness
as its true worth?  
Can a man who has never been hungry
in all his life know what a piece of bread means,
savour all its sweetness as can a man who has starved?
So, when trouble comes our way,
think about what quality
I may need to develop for this given situation,
never knowing, it may b e a quality needed
without our even knowing.
ENDS