GIVE me Thy gift of gentleness,
Most gentle Lord!
For when with fevered, aching brow I lay
Wide-eyed, so oft, from night to break of day,
And learned my frailty—this I learned no less,
How yearns the tired heart just for Gentleness.
And, this rememb’ring, Lord, I ask Thee much,
That Thou wilt give to me the gentle touch,
To sooth the sufferer, and to bring again
Some solace sweet across the path of pain.
Give me Thy gift of gentleness,
Most gentle Lord!
For when the way was rough, and darkly black,
The clouds of sorrow hung about life’s track,
Till tears and anguish seemed my double part,
It was Thy gentleness that healed my heart!
And there are others—walking weary years
With bleeding feet the stony track of tears.
Oh, make me gentle, Lord; through me express
The healing grace of Thine own gentleness!
Norah L. Eley.