A Poem about Hardships

Christian Cross — Ella Wheeler Wilcox reminds us, in the context of our
Lord's experience, that there awaits each
of us a time of testing and trial.

...he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Music playing is
You'll Never Walk Alone
Performed by Elvis Presley
Composed by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein
From the 1945 musical Carousel

Gethsemane

In golden youth when seems the earth,

A Summer-land of singing mirth,

When souls are glad and hearts are light,

And not a shadow lurks in sight,

We do not know it, but there lies,

Somewhere veiled under evening skies,

A garden which we all must see--

The Garden of Gethsemane.

With joyous steps we go our ways,

Love lends a halo to our days;

Light sorrows sail like clouds afar,

We laugh and say how glad we are.

We hurry on; and hurrying, go

Close to the border-land of woe;

That waits for you, and waits for me--

Forever waits Gethsemane.

Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams,

Bridged over by our broken dreams;

Behind the misty caps of years,

Beyond the great salt fount of tears,

The garden lies. Strive as you may,

You cannot miss it in your way.

All paths that have been, or shall be,

Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.

All those who journey, soon or late,

Must pass within the garden's gate;

Must kneel alone in darkness there,

And battle with some fierce despair.

God pity those who cannot say,

Not mine, but Thine, who only pray,

Let this cup pass, and cannot see

The purpose in Gethsemane.

- by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) -

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