Be Not Blind

Today, I’d like to read you one of my favorite poems?

Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and the reason I treasure this poem is because it bolstered the spirits of my mother as she grew older and frail. April is the birthday month of my mother, and so I pulled out this poem the other day to give it a fresh read. And sure enough, it touched me just as it did my mother. Because we can feel overwhelmed by the future – and it doesn’t take long for fear or anxiety to creep in when simple aches become chronic pain. You wonder, you worry: “Can I keep living like this? Can I face each day, knowing it may only get worse?" That’s what my mother thought after her first stroke which disabled her. For so many years, disability was only something I had to face, her daughter. But now, disability was beginning to encroach on her and my mother, make no mistake, it frightened her at times, even though she was a woman with a strong faith in Christ.

And it was about that time that I shared this poem with her. And I hope it resonates with you if you are wondering or worrying about the future. So take heart and let these words of Amy Carmichael encourage you today… just as it encouraged me and my mom so many years ago. The poem goes like this…

Far in the future lieth a fear;
Like a long, low, mist of gray,
Gathering to fall in dreary rain;
Thus doth thy heart within thee complain.
And even now thou art afraid, for round thy dwelling
The flying winds are ever telling
Of the fear that lieth gray
Like a gloom of brooding mist upon the way.

But The Lord is always kind;
Be not blind, be not blind
To the shining of His face,
To the comforts of His grace
Hath He ever failed thee yet?
Never, never. Wherefore fret?
O fret not thyself, nor let thy heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid.

Near, by thy footfall, springeth a joy,
Like a new-blown little flower
Growing for thee, to make thee glad.
Let thy countenance be no more sad,
But wake the voice of joy and health within thy dwelling,
And let thy tongue be ever telling,
Not of fear that lieth gray,
But of little flowers beside the way.

For the Lord is always kind,
Be not blind, be not blind
To the shining of His face,
To the comforts of His grace.
He hath never failed thee yet.
Never will His love forget.
O fret not thyself, nor let thy heart be troubled,
Neither let it be afraid.

Isn’t that a beautiful poem? And it’s so biblically sound. Perhaps the most oft-repeated command in the Bible is “Do not fear,” right? And even though my mother went home to be with Jesus a long time ago, I can still hear her reading these touching verses. So let your tongue be ever telling, not of fear that lieth gray, but of little flowers beside the way. For the Lord is always kind, so be not blind to the shining of His face.

Hey, if you’d like a copy of this poem by Amy Carmichael, then visit my radio page today where you can download it to your computer. Or, ask for your copy by writing Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. I'll be sharing more poetry the rest of this week, so join me next time for the next poem in this special series. Remember, He has never failed thee yet, so do not His love forget. Do not be afraid.

© Joni and Friends