*Pastor’s Note: Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981) was an influential American writer of inspirational and Christian poetry. She wrote and sold millions of books of her verses. Her poetry is quoted almost everywhere. My prayer is that you will be blessed and inspired by her poetry as much as I am.

SPRING AWAKENS WHAT
AUTUMN PUTS TO SLEEP

A garden of asters in varying hues,
Crimson pinks and violet blues,
Blossoming in the hazy fall,
Wrapped in autumn’s lazy pall . . .
But early frost stole in one night,
And like a chilling, killing blight
It touched each pretty aster’s head,
And now the garden’s still and dead,
And all the lovely flowers that bloomed
Will soon be buried and entombed
In winter’s icy shroud of snow . . .
But oh, how wonderful to know
That after winter comes the spring
To breathe new life in everything,
And all the flowers that fell in death
Will be awakened by spring’s breath . . .
For in God’s plan both men and flowers
Can only reach bright, shining hours
By dying first to rise in glory
And prove again the Easter story.

From The Poems and Prayers of Helen Steiner Rice: Poetry by Helen Steiner Rice. Used by permission. All rights reserved.