The Lesson Of Patient Joe

There is a song my grandpa sung,
entitled "Patient Joe,"
Whatever ills o'ertook him, it was
for the best, you know.
He always saw God's hand above,
whatever ills betide,
And trusted Him through joy and
pain; he knew His hand would
guide,
And that though trials sore he met,
'twas for the best,
He'd do his part with cheerful heart
and leave to God the rest.

I've just been thinking that today
when clouds hang dark and low,
Let's sing the song our grandpa sung,
entitled "Patient Joe."
Believing all is for the best, that God
is always true,
And that the future will reveal His
will and bring to view
A glorious world, redeemed from
war and Christians will unite,
To form a common brotherhood,
God's ways are always right.

So as our world is all undone, with
war and other ills,
Let's praise the Lord for His dear
Son and pray and trust Him still.
The righteous never was forgot, He
knows our every need,
And through green fields, with water
still He will His people lead.
We need not fear His arm is strong,
He will our need supply,
And if we do His will on earth,
we'll dwell with Him on high.

So "when taxes are high and provi-
sion is dear," like Joe let's believe
we have nothing to fear.
And the ways of our Lord, though we
don't understand, yet they lead
to the ultimate good of our land.
And the day is approaching when
warring shall cease,
And our world will roll out in the
ages of peace.

These days shall be shortened for the
sake of the blessed,
And from war and oppression our
earth shall have rest.
And God has a purpose if we under-
stood
We would know that all things work
together for good.

^__Nettie Squire Sutton.

A Book of Poems
Nettie Squire Sutton
(Minneapolis, KS: Messenger Press. n.d.)
Pages 27-28