Forgive Me When I Whine

anonymous
from Virtuous Daughters, November 2001~Volume 1, Number 8

Today upon a bus I saw
A lovely maid with golden hair;
I envied her- she seemed so gay-
And oh, I wished I were so fair,
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle;
She had one foot and wore a crutch,
But as she passed, a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine,
I have two feet- the world is mine.
 
And when I stopped to buy some sweets,
The lad who served me had such charm,
He seemed to radiate good cheer,
His manner was so kind and warm.
I said, “It’s nice to deal with you,
Such courtesy I seldom find.”
He turned and said, “Oh, thank you, sir!”
And then I saw that he was blind.
Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes- the world is mine.
 
Then when walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue,
He stood and watched the others play;
It seemed he knew not what to do;
I stopped a moment, then I said,
“Why don’t you join the others, dear?”
He looked ahead without a word,
And then I knew: he could not hear.
Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears, the world is mine.
 
With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow,
With ears to hear what I would know,
I’m blessed indeed; the world is mine;
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.