Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 85

In the pleasant orchard closes, "G.o.d bless all our gains," say we; But "May G.o.d bless all our losses,"

Better suits with our degree.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Our toil is sweet with thankfulness, Our burden is our boon; The curse of earth's gray morning is The blessing of its noon.

--John Greenleaf Whittier.

I hold it true, whate'er befall, I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.

--Alfred Tennyson.

The fountain of joy is fed by tears, And love is lit by the breath of sighs; The deepest griefs and the wildest fears Have holiest ministries.

--Josiah Gilbert Holland.

I held it truth, with him who sings To one clear harp in divers tones That men may rise on stepping stones Of their dead selves to higher things.

--Alfred Tennyson.

When G.o.d afflicts thee, think he hews a rugged stone, Which must be shaped or else aside as useless thrown.

--Richard Chenevix Trench.

My sorrows have not been so light Thy chastening hand I could not trace, Nor have my blessings been so great That they have hid my Father's face.

Put pain from out the world, what room were left For thanks to G.o.d, for love to man?

--Robert Browning.

Heaven is not always angry when he strikes, But most chastises those whom most he likes.

--John Pomfret.

The good are better made by ill, As odors crushed are sweeter still.

--Samuel Rogers.

Only those are crowned and sainted Who with grief have been acquainted.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

LOVE

DIVINE GOODNESS, UNSELFISHNESS

LOVE'S FULFILLING

O Love is weak Which counts the answers and the gains, Weighs all the losses and the pains, And eagerly each fond word drains A joy to seek.

When Love is strong It never tarries to take heed, Or know if its return exceed Its gifts; in its sweet haste no greed, No strifes belong.

It hardly asks If it be loved at all; to take So barren seems, when it can make Such bliss, for the beloved's sake, Of bitter tasks.

Its ecstacy Could find hard death so beauteous, It sees through tears how Christ loved us, And speaks, in saying "I love thus,"

No blasphemy.

So much we miss If love is weak, so much we gain If love is strong, G.o.d thinks no pain Too sharp or lasting to ordain To teach us this.

--Helen Hunt Jackson.

LOVE

If suddenly upon the street My gracious Saviour I should meet, And he should say, "As I love thee, What love hast thou to offer me?"

Then what could this poor heart of mine Dare offer to that heart divine?

His eye would pierce my outward show, His thought my inmost thought would know; And if I said, "I love thee, Lord,"

He would not heed my spoken word, Because my daily life would tell If verily I loved him well.

If on the day or in the place Wherein he met me face to face My life could show some kindness done, Some purpose formed, some work begun, For his dear sake, then, it were meet Love's gift to lay at Jesus' feet.

--Charles Francis Richardson.

THE COMMON OFFERING

It is not the deed we do-- Tho' the deed be never so fair-- But the _love_ that the dear Lord looketh for Hidden with holy care In the heart of the deed so fair.

The love is the priceless thing, The treasure our treasure must hold Or ever our Lord will take the gift, Or tell the worth of the gold By the love that cannot be told.

Behold us--the rich and the poor-- Dear Lord, in thy service draw near; One consecrateth a precious coin, One droppeth only a tear; Look, Master, the love is here!