Trouble is an exerciser <br />Sent us by a Wisdom wiser <br />Than the mind of man possesses. <br />Doubts and dangers and distresses <br />Come not purposely to best us, <br />But to strengthen us and test us. <br /> <br />He who never gets In tussles <br />Soon has soft and flabby muscles. <br />He who, fearing hurts and bruises. <br />Guards his strength, grows weak and loses <br />All the power he thought to nourish. <br />Strong men by their trials flourish. <br /> <br />Never was a stately figure <br />But by trouble was made bigger. <br />Cares a man has borne, and still bears. <br />Trove how much he can and will bear. <br />He Is strongest of your neighbors <br />Who performs the heaviest labors. <br /> <br />Not from easy ways and tender <br />Brilliant minds receive their splendor. <br />But from problems deep, perplexing, <br />And from solving questions vexing, <br />(Nightly pondering wisdom's pages) <br />Comes the luster of the sages. <br /> <br />Trouble is an exerciser <br />Sent to make us stronger, wiser. <br />Sent to make us bigger, better: <br />It Is not a chain or fetter <br />Or a snare or trap to best us, <br />It is Just life's way to test us.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/trouble-38/
