"Thy Shield and Buckler"

The other day as I was organizing, I ran across a book, a special book that I haven't looked at in quite some time. The book is called "The Shadow of the Rock" it's a book full of Christian poems. This was given to a family member back in 1872. This book is special to me for a few reasons, one because I was born in 1972 exactly 100 years later from the time this book was first given as a Christmas gift to a family member and the other reason was my Grandmother gave this to my Dad and 8 years ago my Dad gave it to me right before he moved to the east coast.

My Grandmother (my Dads mom) was a very special women. She is the one person in my life that first introduced me to God and Jesus. I just remember being very young and every time my sister and I would spend the night at our grandparents house my Grandma would always tell us how much God loves us and that He is everywhere. I remember their place was in a beautiful city in Marin and they lived high up on a hill and at night she would pray for us and have us look out the window and see the beautiful view she would explain that everywhere we looked God was there, that He surrounds us. In the morning she would wake us up with such excitement and have us look out the same window with the beautiful view and she would tell us how thankful she was for the sun rising, the birds singing and the new day God has given us.

My Grandmother passed away when I was 13 and it was about 10 years after that that I accepted Christ into my life. Even though I didn't live my life for Christ in my teens and early twenties I always had a part of what my Grandma taught me in my heart and in my mind. I know in my heart that my Grandma is with the Lord and I am excited to be with her again one day.

When my Dad gave me this book of poems I noticed there was a pressed flower to hold a place in the book, I believe it was a favorite of my Grandmothers......................

"Thy Shield And Buckler"

As the weary years go by,

Will my love wax cold, and die?

If the pilgrimage be long,

Life be dark, and foes be strong,

Shall I not grow faint, and yield?

Shall I ever win the field?

How shall I endure and dare?

How the cross in patience bear?

How through tedious years sustain

Wavering conflict, oft in vain?

Nay but the Unchanging Friend

"Will confirm you to the end!"

"He Who hath the work begun

Ne'er will leave that work undone--"

While at God's right hand He lives,

Deathless is the life He gives,

Through all change, and woe, and strife,

"Springing up to endless life."

"Heaven and earth shall pass away,

Not My Words--" so Christ doth say.

In all years " His Truth shall be

Shield and buckler unto thee"

When I reach life's earthly bound,

And the shadows darken round,

All familiar things and dear

Fading fast from eye to ear,--

In that hour of mortal smart,

Trembling flesh and failing heart,

Shall I find my anchor vain,

Parting in that latest strain?

Hear the Shepherd's voice of old,

Looking on His helpless fold,

Looking far, with gaze Divine,

Down the ages' lengthening line:

"Every feeble sheep I know:

Life eternal I bestow:

None shall prick them from My hand."

Shall that word of promise stand?

Or, when countless foes affright,

closing round in latest flight,

In that deadly hour and dim,

Shall my soul be snatched from Him?

"Heaven and earth shall pass away,

NOT MY WORDS--" so Christ doth say:

In death's grasp " His Truth shall be

Shield and buckler unto thee."

H. A. B