A Gift Neglected

I suppose I should have known better
Hoping that gift which was lost would return
Now my hopes are torn asunder
Another lesson both lived and learned

It has been claimed, and now I must agree
One knows not the gift he has ’til it’s gone
And now, do trust me, for I see
While in this circumstance alone

In my human frailty, finiteness, and sin
I failed to act with wisdom and grace
Instead of clarity, confusion set in
And I turned away my face

Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to love at all, they say
But this pain looms icy, like frost on the heart
These memories, they will not fade!

This gift was like no other I’ve known
Unique in most every sense
I found myself most undeserving
And, yet, I erected a fence

This division was most absurd
As if I had lost my sanity
To neglect this gift so precious and sweet
Was the utmost height of vanity!

I abused an unmerited favor
And now I must pay the price
For this foolishness I am humbled
And have no comfort but Christ

Thus, I do cling to God’s Promise
Though in angst I regret my ways
Of neglecting this gift, so very dear
Hence, driving it away

But the Lord, in His kindness and mercy,
Will use even my sin and my faults
And take my most foolish of actions
And use them to purge the dross

Though now I weep in anguish, Lord
I nonetheless trust only in Thee
For Thou alone can make the crooked straight
And cause the blind to see

I thank Thee, O Lord, for Thy mercies
Which are renewed despite my sin
And I thank Thee for Thy comfort
That will allow me joy again

The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCGA
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It is God that multiplies our sorrows.... God, as a righteous Judge, does it, which ought to silence us under all our sorrows; as many as they are, we have deserved them all, and more: nay, God, as a tender Father, does it for our necessary correction, that we may be humbled for sin, and weaned from the world by all our sorrows; and the good we get by them, with the comfort we have under them, will abundantly balance our sorrows, how greatly soever they are multiplied. - Matthew Henry

__________________
Patrick
MDiv, RTS Jackson
Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Lisbon, NY

"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.
"Let us not please ourselves that we have deep understandings, but let us shew our understandings by our practice." Richard Sibbes

Indeed

Very moving.

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Donald Jacobs
Roanoke VA.
Covenant Reformed Episcopal Church.

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

My favorite verse:

"This division was most absurd
As if I had lost my sanity
To neglect this gift so precious and sweet
Was the utmost height of vanity!"

This verse calls it what it is, to wit, that it is insanity to cling to false idols...not insanity because they aren't real, but insantity because they can't really redeem or satisfy. Like a man who takes gumballs in hopes of curing his cancer.

Great stuff Josh...ever thought about submitting to Modern Reformation or other journals/periodicals?

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Joel Batts
Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA) - Memphis, TN

I believe that many would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand. - CS Lewis

Thanks for the kind words, Gents.

Mr. Batts, I've never really considered submitting my work, as I think it a bit amateurish. How would one go about it, anyway?

Nice. A bit maudlin for my taste, but well done.

You should keep it up. Like all things worthwhile, poetry takes time.

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Kevin Rogers
Sovereign Community Church, PCA
Moncton NB

Umm...thanks, Mr. Rogers, I think.