The Diary of Beth Thompson, a Girl in the Great Depression

December 4, 1929

Hooray! Today is Dad's birthday! I'm giving him a tie and a notebook he has wanted forever! We'll have cake and pizza (homemade of course!) and all kinds of other treats! I can hardly wait! I have been worried about Anita. She seems different, although I can't quite figure out why. Things just seem . . . foreboding (one of my cool vocabulary words for school this week). I am going to be busy with Christmas preparations--lucky for me, school will get out in a week! I have to plan what to get (or make) for each person in my family. I might make them all something . . . it has to be AMAZING . . . I guess I have some thinking to do, so I'll write here again soon and tell you all about it, diary.

From Darkness to Light

I'm on a path that I cannot see.
Darkness and doubt envelope me.
I hear a voice as I stumble and fall.
"Give up now, you can't do this at all!"
Slowly, I pick myself up off the ground.
In vain, I search for my way around.

I cry out for help but all I hear
Is that awful voice whispering in my ear.
That voice of doubt that says, "Child, don't try
If you think you can, you're believing a lie.
Just give up, give in, if you try you will fail."
I try again, but to no avail.

I feel like hope cannot be found.
No one to help me is around.
I feel terribly alone.
I cannot do this on my own.

A second more powerful voice I then hear.
The voice is strong, and true, and clear.
"I am your God. I love you so.
I want to help you, please don't say no.
Please don't toss me aside.
I want to come in and with you abide.
You can't live life in your own might.
You absolutely NEED my light.
Peace and joy to you I'll give
And by my power you will live.
Come to me, weary one, I will give you rest.
I made you, my child. I know what is best."

So I run into my Father's arms tonight.
I have just passed from darkness to light.