Day By Day

I heard a voice at evening softly say:
  Bear not thy yesterday into tomorrow,
  Nor load this week with last week's load of sorrow;
  Lift all thy burdens as they come, nor try
  To weight the present with the by and by,
One step, and then another, take thy way--
      Live day by day.

      Live day by day.
Though the autumn leaves are withering round thy way,
  Walk in the sunshine. It is all for thee.
  Push straight ahead as long as thou canst see.
  Dread not the winter where thou mayst go;
  But when it comes, be thankful for the snow.
Onward and upward. Look and smile and pray--
      Live day by day.

      Live day by day.
The path before thee doth not lead astray.
  Do the next duty. It must surely be
  The Christ is in the one that's close to thee.
  Onward, still onward, with a sunny smile,
  Till step by step shall end in mile by mile.
"I'll do my best," unto my conscience say--
      Live day by day.

      Live day by day.
Why art thou bending toward the backward way?
  One summit and another thou shalt mount.
  Why stop at every round the space to count
  The past mistakes if thou must still remember?
  Watch not the ashes of the dying ember.
Kindle thy hope. Put all thy fears away--
      Live day by day.

--Julia Harris May, 1833-1912