Helen Steiner Rice was an American writer of religious and inspirational poetry born in 1900 in Ohio. She began her career in advertising but found her calling in writing inspirational poems. Her poems were published by American Greetings and became very popular, selling nearly 7 million copies total. She drew from her own life experiences, including her father's death and her husband's suicide, to express deep emotion and faith through her poetry. Rice was admired by political and religious leaders and is considered America's beloved inspirational poet laureate.

1. A Thankful Heart
Poem: Helen Steiner Rice
Images: Internet
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2. Helen Steiner Rice (May 19 1900 - April 23 1981) was an American writer of religious
and inspirational poetry.
Helen Steiner was born in Lorain, Ohio on May 19, 1900. Her father, a railroad
worker, died in the influenza epidemic of 1918. She began work for a public utility and
progressed to the position of advertising manager, which was rare for a woman at that
time. She also became the Ohio State Chairman of the Women's Public Information
Committee of the Electric Light Association, and campaigned for women's rights and
improved working conditions.
In 1929 she married Franklin Rice, a bank vice-president in Dayton, Ohio. After the
stock market crash in October that year, Franklin lost his job and his investments. He fell
into a depression from which he never recovered, and committed suicide in 1932.
Rice became a successful businesswoman and lecturer, but found her most satisfying
outlet in writing verse for a prominent greeting card company namely American
Greetings. Her poems received wide exposure in the 1960s when several were read by
Aladdin on the poetry segment of the Lawrence Welk television show.
The demand for her poems became so great that her books are still selling steadily after
many printings, and she has been acclaimed as "America's beloved inspirational poet
laureate". Helen Steiner Rice’s books of inspirational poetry have now sold nearly
seven million copies. Her strong religious faith and the ability she had to express deep
emotion gave her poems timeless appeal.
She died on the evening of April 23 1981, a month shy of her 81st birthday and was
buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio.
Both Pope John Paul II and President James Carter and his wife Rosalynn were
admirers of her artistry.

3. Take nothing for granted,
For whenever you do

4. The joy of enjoying
Is lessened for you-

5. For we rob our own lives
Much more than we know

6. When we fail to respond
Or in any way show

7. Our thanks for the blessings
That daily are ours-

8. The warmth of the sun,

9. The fragrance of flowers,

10. The beauty of twilight,

11. The freshness of dawn,

12. The coolness of dew
On a green velvet lawn,

13. The kind little deeds,
So thoughtfully done,

14. The favors of friends

15. And the love that someone
Unselfishly gives us
In a myriad of ways,

16. Expecting no payment
And no words of praise.

17. Oh, great is our loss
When we no longer find

18. A thankful response
To things of this kind,

19. For the joy of enjoying,

20. And the fullness of living,

21. Are found in the heart
That is filled with thanksgiving

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