"The Thought of You"
by Martha Hackenberger
(For my daughter still in China)

"The thought of you so far away
   intensifies my longing soul
   to have you here close by my side.
   Without you, there's an empty hole.
An empty hole immensely deep--
   too deep to plumb, too wide to span.
   The only consolation found
   in knowing there's a Sovereign Plan.
A Sovereign Plan of love and grace,
   that holds us fast though sorrows come,
   and works all things out for our good,
   still, while I wait to bring you home.
To bring you home--my great desire!
   To hold you dear--my true reward!
   Until that time the void remains
   as we wait upon the Lord.
The Lord who made the stars that shine
   on you and me, though we're apart.
   He made the ocean deep and wide,
   (so like the hollow of my heart).
My heart though hollow, full of grief,
   ebbing, flowing, as the sea,
   will not quiet, calm, or settle,
   'til you're safely here with me.
Here with me--I want you dearly!
   Here with me! Then, we can rest.
   I know that I must leave this to Him
   knowing that He knows what's best.
He knows what's best for us, His children.
   Loves us, always, strong and true.
   This is my only hope and lifeline
   as I wait so long for you.
For you: I'd wait a thousand lifetimes.
   For your smile: a thousand years!
   When you come my heart will burst
   and I will cry a thousand tears.
A thousand tears will hold the thoughts
   of all the prayers I long to pray.
   And God will heal the memory of
   the thought of you so far away.

Martha Hackenberger
For God's Grace
9/15/99
© Martha Hackenberger 1999

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Martha Hackenberger's Poetry

"Baby's Journal:"
"His Care"
"The Thought of You"