It's in the Valley we Grow

I don't know who wrote this poem, but I was cleaning out my junk draw tonight trying to find some paper work for our Van. This poem was given to me in a picture frame 2 years ago when I first moved into my new home.

We lived in our old home for 15 years. We were 10 months from paying it off, but we still had a mortgage. We had a lot of offers, but none that could come up with the money to buy it. (We lived in a double wide mobile home) I got an extra motor route and a Janitors job to cover both house payments. A man on my route has been a very good customer to me. He is around 80 years old; every Christmas he has given me a very good tip, plus he gives each one of my children money for Christmas. He won't stop his paper if he goes away, so I won't lose money. I will miss this customer when he passes on to be with the Lord. Not just because he has given to me, but he cares about my well being.

He has been in a nursing home/care facility for a few months now. I'm not sure of the ends and outs of what happened. I finally asked his grandson were he was. I knew something was wrong, so I asked. He informed me that Bob’s stomach went up into his chest. I asked were he was and if I could go visit him. I went up to see him on Saturday; he was very shocked to see me. He said, I was the last person he thought he would see. I guess paper route people don't visit their customers when they are in the hospital? I stayed for about and hour; we had a very good visit. He told me I had brightened his day. He told me he would be in the hospital for 6 more weeks. I'm going to visit him again tomorrow before I go to work. I want to repay that kind gift from a few years ago and give him his poem back.


Matthew 25:34-40 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me

These verses are a model for my life. I'm not always able to go visit people in these situation, I think e-mom put this so plan one day in her comment to me.

e-Mom said...
Someone called the Bible our "owner's manual." It contains the instructions for life.

e-Mom hit the nail right on the head.
Thanks e-Mom!

My heart goes out to him; this man is normally very active; to be laid up all summer in a hospital bed is not Bob’s style. Anyway, he was praying for my house to sell and gave me this poem.

It's in the Valley we Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then we have to remember
That it's in the valleys we grow.

If we always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
We would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

We have so much to learn
And our growth is very slow,
Sometimes we need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys we grow.

We do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.


The little valleys are nothing
When we picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!

Have a blessed day!