Love

Charles Francis Richardson (1851–1913)

IF suddenly upon the street

My gracious Saviour I should meet,

And he should say, “As I love thee,

What love hast thou to offer me?”

Then what could this poor heart of mine

Dare offer to that heart divine?

His eye would pierce my outward show,

His thought my inmost thought would know;

And if I said, “I love thee, Lord,”

He would not heed my spoken word,

Because my daily life would tell

If verily I loved him well.

If on the day or in the place

Wherein he met me face to face,

My life could show some kindness done,

Some purpose formed, some work begun

For his dear sake, then it were meet

Love’s gift to lay at Jesus’ feet.