”As Thou Goest...”

I woke up this morning remembering the poem she gave me and what she taught me. When I was 18 I was assigned a woman in the nursing home to adopt as a grandmother. I called her Grandma Frizzy. I can’t remember now how many times we actually met but it was at a pivotal point in my life and what she shared with me remains with me to this day.

I have been praying for many people who are facing challenges. I have talked to many young people are fearful of the future. Waking to the poem that Grandma Frizzy shared with me and finding comfort in it made me think that I could do for others what Grandma Frizzy did for me.

 “As Thou Goest...”

Child of My love, fear not the unknown morrow,
Dread not the new demand life makes of thee;
Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sorrow
Since what thou knowest not is known to Me.

Thou canst not see the hidden meaning
Of My command, but thou the light shall gain;
Walk on in faith, upon my promise leaning,
And AS THOU GOEST, all shall be made plain.

One step thou see—then go forward boldly,
One step is far enough for faith to see;
Take that, and thy next duty will be told thee,
For STEP BY STEP thy Lord is leading thee.

Stand not in fear thy adversaries counting,
Dare every peril, save to disobey;
Thou shalt march on, all obstacles surmounting,
for I the Strong, WILL OPEN UP THE WAY.

Wherefore go gladly to the task assigned thee,
Having My promise, needing nothing more
Than just to know, wher’er the future find thee,
In all thy journeying I go BEFORE.

—- From the notebook of Arthur E. Ritchie