New Year's Day

I have held the following poem (by George MacDonald) very close to my heart these days and cannot help but share it here:

I said: 'Let me walk in the field';
God said: 'Nay, walk in the town';
I said: 'There are no flowers there;'
He said: 'No flowers, but a crown';

I said: 'But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din';
But He wept as He sent me back,
'There is more,' He said, 'there is sin.'

I said: 'But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun';
He answered: 'Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone.'

I said: 'I shalt miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say';
He answered: 'Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they.'

I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: 'Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven.
To have followed the steps of your Guide.'

I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said:'My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?'

Then into is hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.

God has been so good this year, to withhold from us certain things we have longed for, thinking that if only we had them, all would be well. Instead, He is teaching us that all is well because of who He is and what He has accomplished on our behalf.

May your new year be ripe with blessing!

Love, The Bakers