A Poem, a Prayer, and a Passage, #2
“Key to Wedlock,” a prayer from Elizabeth Goudge, and an excerpt from “Treasuring the Goods of Marriage”
A Poem: “Key to Wedlock”
by Peter Kwasniewski
Say not, “Why me, why us,” when troubles come,
For come they will, in forms diverse and dark;
Nor can we know their nature or their sum,
If they be light or heavy, mild or stark.
Say rather, “This we know, if nothing more,
That every evil summons forth a strength
Compared to which the virtue from before
Looks feeble, immature, bereft of length.”
Say rather, “This has been permitted now
To call us further up and further in,
To amplify the music of our vow,
To make apparent loss the greater win.”
With patience, wisdom’s consort, boldly go;
Borne well, these pains will only make love grow.
A Prayer
Lord, we thank thee for all the love that has been given to us, for the love of family and friends, and above all for your own love poured out upon us every moment of our lives in steadfast glory. Forgive our unworthiness. Forgive the many times we have disappointed those who love us, have failed them, wearied them, saddened them. Failing them we have failed you, and hurting them we have wounded our Saviour who for love’s sake died for us. Lord, have mercy on us, and forgive. You do not fail those who love you. You do not change nor vary. Teach us your own constancy in love, your humility, selflessness and generosity. Look in pity on our small and tarnished loving, protect, foster and strengthen it, that it may be less unworthy to be offered to you and to your children. O Light of the world, teach us how to love.
(Elizabeth Goudge, A Diary of Prayer, 77–78)