A Humble Heart

A Humble Heart

I would not ask Thee that my days

Should flow quite smoothly on and on,

Lest I should learn to love the world

Too well, ere all my time is done.

I would not ask Thee that my work

Should never bring me pain nor fear,

Lest I should learn to work alone,

And never wish Thy presence near.

I would not ask Thee that my friends

Should always kind and constant be,

Lest I should learn to lay my faith

In them alone, and not in Thee.

But I would ask a humble heart,

A changeless will to work and wake,

A firm faith in Thy providence;

The rest – 'tis Thine to give or take.

~Alfred Norris