“Love” poem by my grandmother

I stumbled across this poem last month in an old church cookbook, as I was looking for some of grandma’s recipes that I was sure would be found there. The words of this poem turned out to be a far greater find for me than any recipe!

It is by no means a “perfect” poem, with expert rhyme and imagery. I would never expect it to be. My grandma Mabel wasn’t an English teacher, an artist, or even a “professional” cook… yet, she loved to write God-glorifying poems, paint beautiful pictures (see one of her paintings below), and fill all her friends, family, and neighbors (and strangers!) with the most scrumptious food this side of Heaven. 

(Grandma Mabel was also a mighty prayer-warrior! I believe one of the main reasons I am serving the Lord in China today is because of her prayers for me since the day I was born.)

So enjoy this simple, Christ-exalting, poem written in obscurity by my grandmother Mabel West (1919-2009) around 1980, three years before I was even born:

“Love”

Love is divinely given us
By our loving Savior who died for us.
Love is not limited
But rather won
Through seeing the Divinity of that Matchless One

Love is all joyful,
Love is not hate,
Love is more blessed
Than one could ever state.
Love is better than riches untold
A dinner of herbs is better than gold
Where love is expounded and given first place
In hearts receptive to His loving grace.

The bonds of love will never fail,
The fiery darts we’ll not inhale
Through trials and tests, through waters steep
With God’s love abounding
We’ll go through the deep.

With brotherly love continuing
In Jesus Christ above
There will be no back-biting, no gossip, no envy, 
             no strife,
But a matchless undying love.

With love reigning preeminently in our hearts
Each day of our lives
We’ll find ourselves clothed in Humility
The Pathway of Mercy to find.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbors
Love will not faint nor destroy
But will strengthen and give to each of us
Who will yield and earnestly employ.

Love will keep unity–strong and sure
Love that is genuine will forever endure
A church well established in faith so secure
Is found on love so rich and so pure.

                                                            –Mabel West