Poems

When shadows fall and sinks the setting sun, Quiet, I sometimes ponder all I've done Throughout the day. Have I put self behind, to turn to God? Have I been led by His protecting rod, To watch and pray? Have I sought God when problems were in sight? Have I asked Him to lead me to the light, His guiding ray? Have I declared the truth, glimpsed perfect man, Seen nothing else but what would be His plan For me this day? When others' faults have been revealed to me, Have I helped them their perfect selves to see, And to Him turned? Have I been glad, encouraging, and kind, And leaving faults and failings all behind, Just good discerned? Have I expressed more gratitude and love For what I have, and thanked dear God above For His supply? If these I've done, then I may take my rest, Assured of peace, full knowing I've been blessed By God on high.

It's one step at a time that makes a path By constant, following feet, Over and over a beaten trail To upland pastures — sweet. It's one thought at a time that makes a way In consciousness appear; Over and over our mental trail Goes love, or hate, or fear.

O let me be aware of all Thou art, And ponder it within my secret heart. Make me to know Thy truth, and understand The full dimensions of the heavenly land; So shall my sense arise from all distress, Praising the affluence of Thy loveliness.

A little child, O Father-Mother God, Do I lift up my face in trust to Thee; And as a child beside his parent's knee, Learning through love his lessons, needs no rod, So I, in meekness, kneeling at Thy feet, Would learn to understand and do Thy will, My little lamp with Thy pure oil would fill, In Thy reflection know my life complete. Always, dear Father, as a little child, Whose innocence knows naught that is not pure; Only of Thine omniscience I am sure, Nor e'er will be by false beliefs defiled.

Work is a very lovely thing, and joyous! To see the truth unfolding to the thought, Activity responding through the hand, As in the Sun of righteousness expand The purposes of God, with wonder wrought. The burden drops into obscurity When man as God's reflection we can see.

How privileged the eyes that now behold Yon Eastern scene, like cameo clear-cut In never crumbling gem of timeless truth, Showing how Love in love reflected is! .

Gray days may come, cold winds may blow for me, And clouds may make my path too dark to see, But far above where human voices speak Is formed an outline of the path I seek. A way made clear by prayerfulness alone, It lies before me, smoothed of every stone Whose ragged edge would make me turn aside From hallowed paths of Truth where I abide.

As a man speaketh to his friend So let me, Father, speak with Thee; With confidence Thy wisdom seek, Thy ready counseling attend; Joyful that, ever at my side, Thou dost from seeming ill defend; Content that Thou my steps wilt guide In paths of service dear to Thee; My loving Father-Mother God, My Friend through all eternity.

Fear not! The Father's tender care Is round us all, is everywhere — He loves us. Within His thoughts we all abide; He sends His angels to our side To guard us.

At evening I would pray to Thee, When shadows round my pathway fall And the betrayer greeteth me, Some erring sense material, And fear and hate around me throng. Oh, may that Mind then dwell in me, And may that Spirit make me strong, That watched above Gethsemane.