Poem March 14, 1931 Issue

The Miracle

MINNY M. H. AYERS

In pity for myself I sat alone
And faced the greatest sorrow I had known.
I said, "For me no sun can shine again;"
Nor cared I if it shone for others then.
What mattered anything since I had lost
The one whose precious love I cherished most!
How could I face the days of stress and strife
Without this mother-love a part of life?
Who now would comfort me and give me cheer,
Would love me on to win, and ease my fear?
"No one again will love me thus," I said.
"You then must go and love like that instead,"
Came sweet command in voice so soft and still;
Yet to my startled sense it seemed to fill
The very room, as, listening now for more,
My wakened thought in joy rehearsed it o'er:
"You then must go and love like that instead."
I pondered—then the sting of grief had fled!
O mother-love, that all these years had blest,
Could I but love like that!—This my request.
For love had been to me a grace unknown,
Save for those treasured few I called my own.
It seemed I'd drawn a circle round these few;
No love outside this precious ring I knew.
And now I saw outside! The world had need
Of love, and I had given its call no heed!
And so, that this might all be changed I prayed
To that same Power whose voice my thought had swayed
Away from grief and self—"O God of all,
Show me the way and I'll obey Thy Call!"
And as I prayed an answering angel-thought
Bespoke a book wherein long since I sought
The way of Truth, unwilling then to strive
Or study, so that I might learn to live.
I found not Truth then in that long ago;
Earth's dreams I held too real to heaven know!
Now all was changed through sorrow's chastening fire—
To learn to live and love my great desire!
Again I read the book. Blest answered prayer!
I found the truth—the Master's way was there!
And then came love; came also such a host
Of hungry hearts, and those who needed most
A tender thought—the downcast, sick, alone,
Ah, miracle! I loved them as my own!
No circled barrier since I heard Love's call!
My own I love; but now, my own are—all;
And loving these I feel God's love so near—
I know no loss! More than I lost is here!

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