June 07, 2012

do good!!

{pictures from our Sunday afternoon drive.  it is lovely here.}
we sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" for our morning devotional today.
before we sang, i read Matthew 25:31-40 and Mosiah 2:17.  I also read the History of the Church vol. 6 pg. 614-615
Right before the prophet Joseph Smith was killed in Carthage jail (with his brother), he asked his friend, John Taylor, to sing this song to him, twice.
We are related to Willard Richards who was also in the jail that night.


This song is beautiful.
I cried as i sang it...
When we give-- EVEN WHILE WE ARE IN NEED-- we will be blessed.

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
Peacefully

1. A poor, wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not pow’r to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

2. Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

. I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.

4. ’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest,
Then made the earth my bed and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

5. Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

6. In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

7. Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
“Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto me.”
Text: James Montgomery, 1771–1854
Music: George Coles, 1792–1858, alt.
Hymn sung prior to the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. See History of the Church, 6:614–15.
Matthew 25:31–40 Mosiah 2:17
i want to serve more.
this summer i want to "forget myself and go to work."
a friend told me this quote--
You can choose CHARITY or choose CRUD.
we will stretch and learn one way or another-- choose charity or choose crud.  it's your choice.
i guess i would add-- choose charity and you won't feel your crud.
everyone has hard, serving others somehow gives us "an angel portion", a different perspective, a lighter load.

we can do much good in our little sphere of influence.
starting with our family... then our extended family... then our neighbors and friends... then our whole world.
we can do much good.
{there are some darling farm houses along this road... and there was a cute couple taking a stroll.
don't you want to retire to a road like this?  i do.}
i know it.

3 comments:

from Lanette and Patrick said...

It is my understanding that John Taylor was the one asked to sing the song "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" to the men in Carthage. The only men in the cell when the mob attacked was Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards.

jenifer said...

ha! thanks lanette-- i totally had my names messed up there. (I fixed it in my post.) Thanks for clarifying that!!

Lanette said...

"Choose charity and you won't feel your crud." YES! Yes, again! There is some serious power in charity, no doubt. Nice one.

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