Lord, How Can I Know Thee - Poem

Lord, How Can I Know Thee

Lord, how can I know thee

  my Savior and friend

  thy suffering and heartache

  thy trials and pain

How can I know thee

  thy gifts to obtain

  gain entrance into Heaven

  and live with Thee again

            Know thou thy neighbor

              who also pleads today

              for comfort in suffering

              with trials and pain

            Know her desires

              her joys and her fears

              so she and thee, may come

              and live with me here

Lord, how can I serve thee

  when small means have I

  my hands, my heart

  and time passing by

How can I serve thee

  thou art far away

  with oil I cannot anoint thee

  nor can I wipe thy tears away

            Serve thou thy neighbor

              bring comfort and cheer

              embrace her and tell her

              I'll always be near

            Tend to her needs

              whether great or small

              and take time to know her

              to listen, to call

Lord, how can I love thee

  creator of Heaven and earth

  whose forgiveness and mercy

  are of greatest worth

How can I love thee

  with all my heart

  my might, mind and strength

  from thee ne’er to part

            Love thou thy neighbor

              let your heart o’er flow

              with charity and forgiveness

              great joy thou shalt know

            Dear child, I love thee

              and blessed are ye

              if ye love one of the least of these

              ye have also loved me

By Janice Harten

Matt 25

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.