The Fellowship of Suffering
By Edith Starbuck
If you have gladly given, day by day, your best
Of thought and time and toil, nor ever asked for rest—
Have given love and laughter, sympathy and tears,
To smooth the path for others through the tedious years—
If now, with feet grown weary and your strength all spent,
By base ingratitude your loving heart is rent,
When those whose good by every sacrifice you sought,
Unheeding pass you by and count your labors naught,
O, deem not that your time was lost, your effort vain!
A lesson sweet your Father teaches you through pain. For hearken to Him as a lover pleading now,
And hear Him as a husband pledge to you His vow.
Lo, as the tender father pities his own child,
With care He seeks the lost throughout the mountains wild.
Though oft denied, repulsed, He calls and searches yet.
More faithful than a mother, He cannot forget.
To you, by all in life that sweetest is, and best,
He illustrates the love that prompts His tireless quest;
And in His love and wisdom He but lets you know,
With Him, the fellowship of suff’ring here below.