Poems About Meekness and Humility
Not only the missionary but all of us need humility and meekness, a closeness to the Lord, a recognition of his great love for us and his gifts to us. If we can become great, hold high position, be signally honored, receive praise, yet keep humble -- that is the test.
Kipling gave us this stanza:
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same. . .
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch. . .
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it. . .
May we say then that
Humility is royalty without a crown,
Greatness in plain clothes,
Erudition without decoration,
Wealth without display
Power without scepter or force,
Position demanding no preferential rights,
Greatness sitting in the congregation,
Prayer in closets and not in corners of the street,
Fasting in secret without publication,
Stalwartness without a label,
Supplication upon its knees,
Divinity riding an ass.
Someone penned these short lines. May I conclude with them:
Help me to be humble, Lord.
I fear that in my carefree winging youth
Filled with heedless laughter
I may laugh too much and forget to cry,
Sing too much and forget to sigh,
Live too much and fear to die.
Help me to be humble, Lord.
From an Address given at BYU Jan. 16, 1983 by Spencer W. Kimball - Audio.