Count It All As Joy Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Count it all as joy!
Even the pain of living,
You believe has increased...
Can and will cease to be.
If the grip you hold.
Loosens to let grief go!
And,
That is okay...
If it goes away.
It is not meant to stay,
To have you in despair that way!
Count it all as joy!

If you did not experience sorrow,
How would you recognize happiness?
Count it all as joy!

If you did not know struggle...
Or a burden to bear.
How would you know a gladness,
That appeared in your heart to share?
Count it all as joy!

If you did not know loss,
And the agony connected.
How can you appreciate...
A peace of mind and reflect it?
Count it all as joy!

Even those rough times,
Appearing along your path...
Aren't there to paralyze you,
As obstacles in your view.
To subdue there to last!
Count it all as joy!

Trial and tribulations?
Even take 'them' and celebrate.
You are awaiting,
To be showered with treasures.
Know it and keep 'that' to anticipate.
Count it ALL as joy!

Maintain a steadfastness in your praises.
To God...
And do not for a moment,
Contemplate a doubt in hesitation.
God prepares every wish to be delivered.
Know you are blessed,
With each test you receive!
Perceiving 'this' as it is!
Depend on this.
And count it all as joy.




Dedicated:
Mrs. Eula Shamberger
Hartford, Connecticut

'Thank you, Eula.
This has been the first time I have been inspired
to begin and finish a composition in the presence
of the person who provided that inspiration!
We both were there in your office January 29th 2008
when you said 'Count It All As Joy'. And I could not
leave until this 'poem' was completed in its entirety!
THAT has never happened to me before. This was
indeed a message...a blessing! And I am very grateful! '

Lawrence