Since my husband’s passing, I have been looking through his bookshelves, partly to see what should be donated, and partly to organize his quite large library.  He was a huge reader (but not such a great organizer).  He had an amazing collection of Bibles and related books.  He also loved to read biographies, mostly of inspirational men.  He read biographies of our great presidents (Washington, Adams, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR), some of them 500 or more pages long, and some he read more than once.  I’m not sure I could stick with a book that long, but he seemed to devour them.  As I was searching for something else, I came across a book called Leaves of Gold.  It’s an anthology of inspirational writings and poetry.  The inscription indicates that he had given it to his beloved Scottish grandmother in 1970.  It must have been returned to him after she passed, but he never mentioned it to me.  I picked it up the other day and have since been delightfully inspired by its beautiful essays, sayings, and poetry.  Here is one poem that I would like to share with you.

Quietness

By Madeleine Kathryn Doran

“Be still and know that I am God,”

That I who made and gave thee life

Will lead thy faltering steps aright;

That I who see each sparrow’s fall

Will hear and heed thy earnest call,

I am God.

“Be still and know that I am God,”

When aching burdens crush thy heart,

Then know I formed thee for thy part

And purpose in the plan I hold.

Thou art the clay that I would mold.

Trust in God.

“Be still and know that I am God,”

Who made the atom’s tiny span

And set it moving to my plan,

That I who guide the stars above

Will guide and keep them in My Love.

Be thou still.

To me, it expresses with such beautiful and exquisite feeling that since God created our universe with complete preciseness from its largest aspects down to the tiniest particles of an atom, He is certainly capable of leading us and caring for us. Again, for me, it does instill such a feeling of peace and quietness. In this world that seems to be spinning out of control, it is easy to give in to modern-day angst, but God is well able. We can let go of our frets and worries. “Be still and know that I am God.”