Frail are the best of us, brothers–
God’s charity cover us all–
Yet we ask for perfection in others,
And scoff when they stumble and fall.
Shall we give him a fish–or a serpent–
Who stretches his hand in his need?
Let the proud give a stone, but the manly
Will give him a hand full of bread.
Let us search our own hearts and behavior
Ere we cast at a brother a stone,
And remember the words of the Savior
To the frail and unfortunate one;
Remember when others displease us
The Nazarene’s holy command,
For the only word written by Jesus
Was charity–writ in the sand.
CHARITY
[Written in a friend’s book of autographs, 1876.]
Bear and forbear, I counsel thee,
Forgive and be forgiven,
For Charity is the golden key
That opens the gate of heaven.
(Hanford Lennox Gordon)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Heaven Poems, Friendship Poems, Charity Poems, Brothers Poems, Forgiveness PoemsBased on Keywords: autographs