A Humble Plea
2023 Susan Noyes Anderson
image by Danie Franco on Unsplash
image by Danie Franco on UnsplashRenew in me a righteous spirit, Lord,
a valiant spirit with a willing sword.
Make of me more than I alone can be,
a living oak with strong limbs raised to thee.
Expand in me seeds of humility,
of gratitude for sun and wind and rain.
Let sap of memory comfort when, in vain,
my branches long for days of easy green.
Send buds of patience, Lord, pure love, and bring
me gratitude that does not count the dirth
of leaves as autumn bids them fall to earth.
When winter crushes growth, show me thy spring.
Renew my fertile ground; this tree still stands,
and ere I give way to time’s waiting hands,
let grace in me redound in charity
to be a child of thine in verity.
Sustain me, Lord. I would live out thy plan,
leaving this earth as more than I began.
image by Zac Porter on Unsplash
“Behold, we count them happy which endure” (James 5:11).
As someone who has been feeling her age a little more than usual of late, my prevailing thought today has been that enduring in love is the best and highest purpose to pursue in this and every time of life. It’s up to us to grow into the people we came here to become, and getting older makes me increasingly aware of that truth. This poem is a little reminder to myself that “I can do all things through Christ, who strengths me” (Philippians 4:13). And that is a very great blessing, indeed.
If this poem resonates with you, you may also enjoy He Prayed, We Pray.
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Tags: aging, becoming, discipleship, endurance, enduring to the end, God, growth, Jesus Christ, living well, plan of salvation, prayer, preparing for death