Your ShelfYour Projects

How Can I Wait?

13%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 11.

Read the full edition

How Can I Wait?

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE
“And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven; prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:2.
How can I wait the city, gladness bringing, That glows with rapture for the hearts that ache, When the redeemed shall come with joy and singing, And loved ones, with fond hands enclasped and clinging, Shall enter in, no more to watch and wait?
How can I wait? The years roll on to ages, And still the heavens conceal the pearly gate. ’Tis sung by poets, and foretold by sages, And plainly promised in the sacred pages. And still it comes not, and I sadly wait.
How can I wait? Unnumbered graves are filling, And hearts are breaking, homes are desolate, And gems of love the cruel world are chilling, And clouds their tears upon the earth, are spilling, And life is weary. Ah, how can I wait?
How can I wait? There are serpents ’mong earth’s flowers, And evil passions, scorn, and pride, and hate. There’s note of sadness heard in brightest hours. O, how I long for Eden’s fadeless bowers! But still they come not, and I sadly wait.
How can I wait? I pause and look before me, And say, “’Twill soon be here e’en though ’tis late.” Far from my childhood have the long years borne me, And still I know, ’tis God that watches o’er me; I’ll bide his time, though still I sadly wait.