A Gift of Heart
Carolyn EW Hendry
Des Moines, IA USA 1986
I offer hands that work and write.
I offer arms that hold you tight.
I offer eyes that love the small.
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer meals that feed the poor;
I offer songs to cheer them more.
I offer tears that mourn with all.
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer hand that hoe and till.
I offered, too, a carpenter’s skill,
I offer hands that harvest fall—
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer a voice to light the dawn,
I offer movement, lithe and long.
I offer, hands that sculpt and draw;
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offered time to hear a friend;
I offer care to help hurts mend.
I offer love to ease the fall.
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer prayers that played for mine—
I offer litanies divine.
I offer thanks for blessings full.
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer strength to lean upon.
I offer cheer to speed you on
And confidence to help stand tall—
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer a heart who’s broken girth
Yearns for peace and healing truth.
I offer faith as such had Paul.
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer wisdom learned from God:
With me, come seek the iron rod.
I offer lips to drink the gaul;
A gift of heart, I offer all.
I offer a soul that cries: “Send me!”
I offer truth—He died for thee.
My head bowed I accept the call:
I give my heart, I offer all.
I wrote this poem in response to a theme my mom (Nancy Kathleen Burton Wagstaff) and her counselors picked for a Stake Women's Conference: "Gift of Heart"
It took me a few days. When I was done, I gave it to mom and she used it--at least part of it--during the Conference.
