Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

                            Full of sorrow, trouble and woe.

                             It's then I have to remember

                            That it's in the valleys I grow.

                 If I always stayed on the mountain top

                             And never experienced pain,

                      I would never appreciate God's love.

                             And would be living in vain.

                                 I have so much to learn

                              And my growth is very slow.

                     Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

                             But it is in the valleys I grow.

                              I do not always understand

                              Why things happen as they do,

                              But I am very sure of one thing,

                              My Lord will see me through.

                             My little valleys are nothing

                        When I 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 am feeling so very low,

                              Just give me a gentle reminder

                              That it is 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 the 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!

(By Jane Eggleston)

This poem was given to us by a friend about the time Gary got sick.  It soon became our favorite.  We used it on the back of Gary's funeral bulletin and had it read at Jami's wedding.  We are finding that real spiritual growth takes place in the valleys of our life.