Be Strong

Be strong in love, O heart of mine!
Live not for self alone,
But find, in blessing other lives,
Completeness for thine own.
Seek every hungering heart to feed,
Each saddened heart to cheer;
And when stern justice stand aloof,
In pity though draw near.
Kind, loving words and helping hands
Have won more souls for heaven
Than all the dogmas and creeds
By priests and sages given.

Be strong to hope, O heart of mine!
Look not on life's dark side;
For just beyond these gloomy hours
Rich, radiant days abide.
Let hope, like summer's rainbow bright,
scatter thy falling tears;
And let God's special promises
Dispel all anxious fears.
To every grief a Lethe comes,
For every toil, a rest;
So hope, so love, so patient bear -
God doeth all things best.