p. 7 | What Is Love? by Mary McGee Snell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 20, 1902

What Is Love?

By Mary McGee Snell

For others’ sake to longer wear The garment old, that they, more bare, May feel the warmth of robe you give, And have’a braver heart to live— Nor show that you yourself deny By any half-regretful sigh,— Herein is love.

For others’ sake to hush the moan, And speak in gentle, cheerful tone; For others’ sake to hide your tears, And keep unspoken all your fears; For others’ sake to be quite strong When sore beset by foe and wrong,— Herein is love.

For others’ sake to seek to bear The heaviest part of all life’s care; Nor show the weary ache and strain That falls on heart and soul and brain; But in it all to seem at rest, And not as standing any test,— Herein is love.

For others’ sake to make life sweet Though thorns may press into your feet; For others’ sake to walk each day As though joy helped you all the way, While in your heart may be a grave That makes it hard to be so brave,— Herein is love.

For others’ sake — this brought to earth The benediction of His birth; For others’ sake he suffered all That into human life could fall; For others flowed the crimson tide, For others he was crucified,— Herein is love.

— Mary McGee Snell.