If I Had But One Year To Live

If I had but one year to live
One year to help, one year to give;
One year to love, one year to bless;
One year of better things to stress;
One year to laugh, one year to smile;
To brighten earth a little while;
One year to sing my Maker’s praise;
One year to fill with work my days;
I think that I should try to spend each day
In just the self-same way
That I do now.
For, from afar
That call may come across the bar
At anytime, and I must be
Prepared for eternity.
So if I have but a year to live,
Or just one day in which to give
A pleasant smile, a helping hand;
A mind that tries to understand
A fellow traveller when in need,
’ Tis one with me.
I’ll take no heed,
But strive each day to fill
And serve my gracious Master’s will.

- Anonymous -