Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 77

The empty stall no herd afford, And perish all the bleating race, Yet will I triumph in the Lord-- The G.o.d of my salvation praise.

--Charles Wesley.

'Tis impious in a good man to be sad.

--Edward Young.

AS A BIRD IN MEADOWS FAIR

As a bird in meadows fair Or in lovely forest sings, Till it fills the summer air And the green wood sweetly rings, So my heart to thee would raise, O my G.o.d, its song of praise That the gloom of night is o'er And I see the sun once more.

If thou, Sun of love, arise, All my heart with joy is stirred, And to greet thee upward flies, Gladsome as yon tiny bird.

s.h.i.+ne thou in me, clear and bright, Till I learn to praise thee right; Guide me in the narrow way, Let me ne'er in darkness stray.

Bless to-day whate'er I do; Bless whate'er I have and love; From the paths of virtue true Let me never, never rove; By thy spirit strengthen me In the faith that leads to Thee, Then, an heir of life on high, Fearless I may live and die.

"HE DOETH ALL THINGS WELL!"

Pleased in the suns.h.i.+ne, pleased in the blast, Pleased when the heavens are all overcast, Pleased when I can or cannot see G.o.d's loving hand is dealing with me.

Pleased, for Christ's promises never can fail; Pleased in the calm and also the gale; Knowing Omniscience at midnight can see, Since he was Pilot on dark Galilee.

Pleased when in health or when I am ill, Pleased, since I know I'm in the Lord's will, Pleased with whatever my lot may be Knowing Omnipotence careth for me.

Beneath the tiger's jaw I heard a victim cry, "Thanks, G.o.d, that, though in pain, yet not in guilt I die."

--From the Persian.

THE ROBIN'S SONG

I'll sing you a lay ere I wing on my way, Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!

Whenever you're blue find something to do For somebody else who is sadder than you.

Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!

He growled at morning, noon, and night, And trouble sought to borrow; Although to-day the sky were bright He knew 'twould storm to-morrow; A thought of joy he could not stand, And struggled to resist it; Though suns.h.i.+ne dappled all the land This sorry pessi_mist_ it.

--Nixon Waterman.

Oh, be in G.o.d's clear world no dark and troubled sprite!

To Christ, thy Master mild, do no such foul despite; But show in look, word, mien, that thou belongst to him, Who says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden light."

--Friedrich Ruckert.

Let us gather up the sunbeams Lying all around our path; Let us keep the wheat and roses, Casting out the thorns and chaff; Let us find our sweetest comfort In the blessings of to-day, With a patient hand removing All the briars from our way.

O give me the joy of living And some glorious work to do!

A spirit of thanksgiving, With loyal heart and true; Some pathway to make brighter, Where tired feet now stray; Some burden to make lighter, While 'tis day.

True happiness (if understood) Consists alone in doing good.

Talk happiness each chance you get--and talk it good and strong!

Look for it in the byways as you grimly pa.s.s along; Perhaps it is a stranger now whose visit never comes, But talk it! Soon you'll find that you and happiness are chums.

'Tis Being and Doing and Having that make All the pleasures and pains of which mortals partake.

To Be what G.o.d pleases, to Do a man's best, And to Have a good heart, is the way to be blest.

If the weather is cold don't scold, If the weather is wet don't fret, If the weather is warm don't storm, If the weather is dry don't cry; But be cheerful together, whatever the weather.

The inner side of every cloud Is bright and s.h.i.+ning; Therefore I turn my clouds about, And always wear them inside out, To show the lining.

--Ellen Th.o.r.n.ycroft Fowler Felkin.

Let him that loves his ease, his ease, Keep close and house him fair; He'll still be a stranger to the merry thrill of danger And the joy of the open air.

--Richard Hovey.

There is no human being With so wholly dark a lot, But the heart, by turning the picture, May find some sunny spot.

Let us cry, All good things Are ours, nor soul helps flesh more now Than flesh helps soul.

--Robert Browning.

AFFLICTION

CONSOLATION, TRIAL, ENDURANCE

RESIGNATION