Tuesdays with.... (#10)

Today's poet is one I had never heard of before. I asked my co-worker today who her favorite poet was and she stated Amy Carmichael.

Amy Carmichael was a Protestant Christian missionary in India, who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She served in India for 55 years without furlough and wrote many books about the missionary work there. In 1931, she was badly injured in a fall, which left her bedridden much of the time until her death. She died in India in 1951 at the age of 83. She asked that no stone be put over her grave; instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription "Amma", which means mother in the Tamil.

My co-worker said her favorite poem by Ms Carmichael is called "The Thorn" but despite my greatest efforts, I could not find it anywhere. However, I came across one that spoke to me, so I would like to share it with today. As always, I pray you will relax, reflect and enjoy. Willette, this one is for you...

Lord, give me love like this

By Amy Carmichael

Many crowd the Savior's Kingdom,

Few receive His Cross,

Many seek His consolation,

Few will suffer loss

For the dear sake of the Master,

Counting all but dross.

Many sit at Jesus' table,

Few will fast with Him

When the sorrow-cup of anguish

Trembles to the brim.

Few watch with Him in the garden

Who have sung the hymn.

Many will confess His wisdom.

Few embrace his shame,

Many, should He smile upon them,

Will His praise proclaim;

Then, if for a while He leave them,

They desert his Name.

But the souls who love Him truly

In woe or in sweet bliss,

These will count their truest heart's blood

Not their own, but His;

Savior, Thou Who thus hast loved me,

Give me love like this