| Strength and Beauty |
Chapter 4 |
Page 6 |
But when we sink our will in God’s, sure of his better wisdom and safer guidance, and of his perfect love even the most painful things have in them secrets of joy, as the will of God grows sweet to us. The story is well told in the following lines:
“I ran at his commands,
And sang for joy of heart;
With willing feet and hands
I wrought my earnest part–
And this my daily cry:
‘Dear Master, here am I!’
“Then came this word one day–
I shrank as from a rod,
To hear that dear voice say:
‘Lie still, my child, for God.’
As out from labor sweet
He called me to his feet,
“Called me to count the hours
Of many a weary night,
To bear the pain that dowers
The soul with heavenly might;
But still my daily cry:
‘Dear Master, here am I!’
“His will can only bring
The choicest good to me,
So ne’er did angel wing
Its flight more joyously
Than I, his child, obey,
And wait from day to day.
“The humble offering
Of quiet, folded hands,
Costly with suffering
He only understands,
To God more dear may be
Than eager energy.
“And he is here, my Song,
That I may learn of him.
What though the days are long?
What though the day is dim?
‘Tis he who says, ‘Lie still;’
And I adore his will.”
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