What actions spring to mind when charity is mentioned?
Man’s conception is far from the bounds God has set.
We look around our world and some kind soul helps another,
Their efforts may save a life, or help a needy brother.
We, in all pride of heart, praise with gratifyingly empty words
The doer of the kindly need, by so doing, destroy true charity.
For if we praise in earthly tones, do we deny them eternal glory?
If we do acts of kindness; save a floundering soul from hell;
If we go without ourselves and give to others in greater need;
Carry someone’s burden an extra mile; give all we have away;
Will we gain a crown of glory at the end of our life’s day?
A human heart would say “yes my child, you made God’s throne.”
My heart would glow with pride, I had done my part in life
To make this world a better place, feel a sweet peace sublime.
People all around my good works would loudly proclaim.
Begone proud heart, charity is not puffed up like a peacock,
Strutting to display his grandeur and beauty. The humble sparrow
Is closer to the throne of DEITY than any proud human heart.
You may feel a need for praise of man when you do your part,
But in the great magnitude of life, the panoramic picture framed
For ever, mans praise is small, empty and insignificant compared
To the wealth of praise from a loving God, if praise is kept for Him,
Him alone, not depending on earthly praise, that changes at every whim.
Serve others with humble heart, thanking God for all your strength,
For every breath we take, every heart beat, we cannot make ourselves,
Dependency for life should teach us pure humility, so a humble heart
Should reach to heaven and serve, not for charity’s sake, for that in part
Is of no worth. But serve only to honour our God whom all things made.
Serve others and hide your deed from those who shout “Well done.”
Let no one know of your good works when they can be hidden from view,
And the Lord himself will greet you and bless all that you will do.
For in true Charity lies all the virtues that a human soul can obtain,
It envelopes them so graciously as if binding a fragrant bouquet,
Each flower, good on it’s own merit, bound together makes perfection.
Each separate virtue priceless. Pure Charity will have dominion
Over all evil ways. No cruel words will escape charitable lips;
No wicked thoughts corrupt the heart; no greed bedim the mind
Of those who hold Charity their own; No good action too humble
For their eager hands; No path too hard to tread, yet if they stumble,
They carry on. Kindness flows like water from a spring from their being.
Inner beauty shines through all earthly flaws of face or figure,
As they stand as a paragon of all virtue, a joy to know and love,
For the radiance that you feel seems to descend from realms above.
All should wish this treasured gift, the greatest of a loving Father’s trove.
So I beg, with the good Lord’s grace, the knowledge to gain this gift.
O Charity, I beg thee tell me in sweet melodic tone, how to obtain thee?
Can every man born of mortal frame gain thee in full felicity?
Can a sin bound soul seek and find thee in the refuse of this life?
Where do I turn my wandering feet? Where should I set my aim?
If I strive, could I all virtue gain, till like thee, I be called Charity?
Show me how, guide by stumbling feet, show me in all clarity,
Guide my seeking heart to better ways than those I now tread,
Help me find in myself a strength beyond my own to grow in love.
Oh seeking child, the first step is trod on the path of Charity,
For you seek me with an honest heart and repentant soul.
Lean on the ample arm of God, listen to the still small voice.
Stop and think of others and always make a wiser choice
Than greed or self. Aim high my child. For heaven is thy right.
The birthright of every human soul, and will be attained by many.
I am free for the asking, no earthly wealth will, or can, purchase me.
Nothing is more precious to your God and King than true humility
In the heart of a child. So seek to be humble, be not arrogant and proud.
Then dear one, add to your humility, a tender heart and a caring hand.
For a tear stained face holding a sick child emulates a Christlike life.
The qualities of mercy, tenderness and self-sacrifice always adorn thee.
Rather than spiteful words, let thy tongue be sweetened with honey.
For a kind word turneth away all wroth, and pleaseth our God above.
Keep a virtuous life, be free from moral sin that destroys the spirit
And weaken the strands that binds us to our loving God, Giver of life.
Then a thing most hard yet will help you attain Charity’s sweet prize,
This is a forgiving, non-judgmental heart. True forgiveness is for the wise.
Be childlike in your faith, diligent in your works, fair to you fellow men.
Cast off Mammon, strive to be like your Saviour, emulate His every deed,
So aim not to be a child of man, but become a child of your God.
For I Charity, am nothing less than the pure love of Christ the Lord.
Oh Charity, your road is hard, I am weak and my frailties so many,
Can I in all honesty strive with my feeble and paltry efforts
Reach this seemingly unapproachable goal? Can I obtain this gift?
This talent that is like a thousand, have I the strength to lift
My head that high? Walk as the Gods in humble strength of heart,
Knowing that I am like unto Him who died for a sinner as wicked as me.
To have the pure love of Christ is so great and noble an aim, can I ever see
The unending magnitude of the scope that gives to mere humans, souls?
Where will I learn these skills? Who will guide me in the paths of right?
Is there a way to gain thee, Charity, in my weak and feeble heart and soul?
O dear child, doubt is of a much lower realm of where you want to be,
Doubt is not of heaven and oft times deprives us of all worthy striving.
He who fell from grace before our world revolved and came into its own,
Feeds into the hearts of men fear of failure and false pride condone.
The Lord gave thee scripture sweet and wise, a pathway to tread,
Marked out to follow day by blessed day. Then, a prayerful heart
So you may know how and when you may do your simple part.
Sing praises to your God till the rafters of the sky rend with joy
As true gratitude you give. Strength you need not, or health,
Nor vast amounts of wealth. Be as clay in those loving hands,
You will be moulded as He will, and then have treasure like sands
Innumerable. Through this life and through all the worlds to come,
Charity you will be called. For you will be His, for you have tried,
You aimed to serve, aimed to emulate the God of love, aimed for heaven.
Of all the gifts that God can give, to me Charity, is greatest given.
Seek it. Find it. Then place it at the Saviours pierced and bleeding feet
With a broken and a contrite heart. Then child, You will be Charity.
M Ann Margetson Easter Sunday April 12 1998 ©