The Home Circle by Eleanor Kirk

International Tract and Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Jul 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 27.

The Home Circle.

By Eleanor Kirk

THE BETTER CHOICE.

HAD I the power to choose to-day The path wherein my feet should stray The remnant of this earthly way, I wonder where 'twould lead? To right or left would first step be, Eastward or westward, land or sea, And if in choosing to be free Should I be free indeed?

How much of courage should I bring To this unguided journeying; How many anthems should I sing Of hope and trust and praise, Of gratitude for dangers past, For sunlit paths and skies o'ercast, For troubles that do bring at last God's blessing on our ways?

This way or that? Ah, me! how blind These human eyes we soon should find, This human choosing how unkind, That knows not how to choose! That finds no comfort in defeat, No healing balm for bleeding feet, No tender Presence near and sweet— Ah, this is Heaven to lose!

Dear Father, closer clasp my hand; And if I may not understand The devious paths to thy fair land, Teach me to trust, I pray. Help me to feel from sun to sun, That on thy errands I shall run, To say "thy will, not mine, be done, Till comes the perfect day. —Eleanor Kirk, in Zion's Herald.