Reflections
Oft to my
weary heart comes a gloom a shadow of sadness
The wrecks
of human life marking times pathway
Seem to
cry out in their gloom “I am the tomb of one living!”
Others are
weary of Life Weary of toil and of failure.
Others
would fain be dead asleep in the silent churchyard.
There they
would be at rest. There they would cease from sinning.
Nothing
would matter then, they’d be freed from hate and its tortures
None would
they cause to sin, to follow their fallen example
Life with
all of its woes its sorrows and joys would be over
The toils
and privations of Time, - all yes all would be ended
“Why oh
why?” we cry “why must we go on sinning
Why not
end it all? Cleanse the earth of its rubbish?
Sad are
the graves of the dead, but sadder the tombs of the living
The one is
at peace and rest, the other is dead but still sinning.
The one
has brought joy and peace, the other brings nothing but sorrow.
The one
was a blessing to man, the other the fruits of corruption.
What is
the use of toil? Oh is Life ever worth living?
Then there
comes to me a whisper a voice of conviction:
“If the
reason of life, its uses and purpose you question,
If you
deem it no value no hope to your toil weary brother
If you
think it not worth the sorrow the toil and privations
Just to be
numbered with those the ones who have finished their duty
Those who
have gone to their rest, gone to be with their Savior
Gone to
live with Him who purchased by His crucifixion
Life
everlasting for all by His grace gave us glory immortal;
Is it not
worth the price, even though on this earth we must suffer
Think! He
has suffered for us and if we bear all our sorrows
Then on
that beautiful morn, we too shall share the Redemption.
Though
many the graves of the dead, many more the tombs of the living
Now if you
still believe not – doubt that life is worth living
Think it
is useless to live – perhaps ‘tis your life that is worthless.
Written by Ida May Schaffer
June 1922
Age of 16