Jay D Weaver's Thought for the Week

Penitence and Joy

As we move through the Lenten season, we put a special emphasis on penitence. We confess our sins and are assured of forgiveness for our failures as human beings. However, once we have made our confession and received our forgiveness, we should not live in constant remorse.

One of the wonderful things about our faith is that we receive a certain measure of joy for the freedom from bondage that is ours. We live in a spirit of thankfulness and praise for the grace that is afforded us. James Whitcomb Riley wrote a poem about living with gladness. I would like to share that poem with you.

Just to be Glad

Oh! heart of mine, we shouldn't worry so!
What we have missed of calm, we couldn't have, you know!
What we have met of stormy pain,
And of sorrow's driving rain,
We can better meet again,
If they blow.

We have erred in that dark hour, we have known;
When the tears fell with the showers, all alone,
Were not shine and shadow blent
As the gracious Master meant?
Let us temper our content
With His own.

For we know not every morrow can be sad;
So, forgetting all the sorrow we have had,
Let us fold away our fears
And put by our foolish tears,
And through all the coming years,
Just be glad.

James Whitcomb Riley.

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