Thy Hidden Ones
L. B. Cowman
Thick green leaves from the soft brown earth,
Happy springtime hath called them forth;
First faint promise of summer bloom
Breathes from the fragrant, sweet perfume,
Under the leaves.
Lift them! what marvelous beauty lies
Hidden beneath, from our thoughtless eyes!
Mayflowers, rosy or purest white,
Lift their cups to the sudden light,
Under the leaves.
Are there no lives whose holy deeds—
Seen by no eye save His who reads
Motive and action—in silence grow
Into rare beauty, and bud and blow
Under the leaves?
Fair white flowers of faith and trust,
Springing from spirits bruised and crushed;
Blossoms of love, rose-tinted and bright,
Touched and painted with Heaven’s own light
Under the leaves.
Full fresh clusters of duty borne,
Fairest of all in that shadow grown;
Wondrous the fragrance that sweet and rare
Comes from the flower-cups hidden there
Under the leaves.
Though unseen by our vision dim,
Bud and blossom are known to Him;
Wait we content for His heavenly ray—
Wait till our Master Himself one day
Lifteth the leaves.
L. B. Cowman
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I wish you well.
Sandy
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Sandy Kirby Quandt 
I’ve often thought about the many Christians who follow and serve the Lord with little fanfare. They’re the backbone of every church and Christian organization. We always used to go hunting for Mayflowers in Maine in the spring. Finding such delicate beauty under the leaves is a treasure indeed, and this poem is a beautiful reminder of all those who faithfully serve. Thanks for posting it, Sandy. I’d never seen it before.
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Kathy, I found the poem in Streams in the Desert. It is written by L. B. Cowan. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen mayflowers, but in pictures they seem so delicate and pretty. You’re right…unsung heroes in our churches are the backbone. I think of our head custodian as one of those heroes.
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