Foreword<br > The New York Times has acclaimed Helen Steiner Rice as "The Inspira-<br >tional Poet Laureate of America." Millions around the world have purchased<br >her greeting cards and books. One hundred million viewers have heard her<br >poems read on the Lawrence Welk Show. For half a century she has been on<br >the writing staff of Gibson Greeting Cards in Cincinnati. Countless persons<br >have made her verses a part of their joy-filled moments and have been uplifted<br >by her words of encouragement during times of heartache and tragedy.<br > What is Helen Steiner Rice s response to the tremendous impact her<br > poems have had on readers everywhere ? In a recent interview she said， ~These<br > are not my poems. These are God s answers to people s needs. I am just His<br > instrument， His messenger? <br > Over years of close publisher-author contact with this lovely little lady，<br > we have been impressed by Mrs. Rice s unique ability to select the most<br > suitable topics and verses for each of her books. Further， she has a keen sense<br > of the appropriate in her judgment of book and jacket design and title. Along<br > the way from concept to completed volume， prayer is a part of each decision，<br > of each problem. Later， as the book moves from one printing to the next， Mrs.<br > Rice praises God and gives Him the glory.<br > God s presence is clearly evident at every meeting with Mrs. Rice.<br > Fairness， unselfishness， giving， helping， consoling， reaching out， serving--<br > these are the key words in her vocabulary.<br >