Sometime (May Riley Smith)

Sometime, when all life's lessons have been learned,

And sun and stars forevermore have set,

The things which our weak judgments here have spurned,

The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet,

Will flash before us out of life's dark night,

As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;

And we shall see how all God's plans are right,

And how what seemed reproof was love most true.

And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh,

God's plans go on as best for you and me;

How, when we called, He heeded not our cry,

Because His wisdom to the end could see.

And e'en as prudent parents disallow

Too much of sweet to craving babyhood,

So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now

Life's sweetest things, because it seemeth good.

And if, sometimes, commingled with life's wine,

We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink,

Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine

Pours out the potion for our lips to drink;

And if some friend you love is lying low,

Where human kisses cannot reach his face,

Oh, do not blame the loving Father so,

But wear your sorrow with obedient grace!

And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath

Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friend,

And that, sometimes, the sable pall of death

Conceals the fairest boon His love can send;

If we could push ajar the gates of life,

And stand within, and all God's workings see,

We could interpret all this doubt and strife,

And for each mystery could find a key.

But not today.  Then be content, poor heart;

God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold;

We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,-

Time will reveal the chalices of gold.

And it, through patient toil, we reach the land

Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,

When we shall clearly see and understand,

I think that we will say, "God knew the best!"

-

언젠가 인생의 모든 교훈을 다 배웠을 때

해와 별들이 영원히 져버릴 때

우리의 미약한 판단력이 일축한 것들과

우리가 젖은 속눈썹으로 슬퍼했던 것들이

삶의 어두운 밤으로부터 나와 우리 앞에 반짝이리라

별들은 더 깊은 푸른 색조로 가장 밝게 빛나고

우리는 하나님의 모든 계획이 어떻게 옳았는지, 

책망으로만 보였던 것들이 얼마나 참된 사랑이었는지 알게 되리라

또한 우리는 보게 되리라

우리가 얼굴을 찌푸리고 한숨을 내뱉는 동안에도, 

하나님의 계획은 나와 너를 위해 최선으로 진행 중이었음을

.

.

.

시간은 기어이 금잔을 드러내리라

인내의 수고를 통해 신을 벗고 지친 발을 쉬게 할 그 땅에 이르러, 

우리가 마침내 모든 것을 선명하게 보고 이해하게 될 때 

우리는 이렇게 고백하게 되리라 

"하나님은 최선을 알고 계셨습니다."