“Thorns and Thrones” 

I’d rather gather roses without thorns, Lord,

A bright and fragrant, beautiful bouquet

To decorate my world with pretty pleasures-

The brambles and the briers, I’ll throw away.

But you say I must pluck the thorns as well, Lord,

Though they’ll pierce my heart and sting my soul;

You say that pain’s a part of peace, you tell me

That breaking is a part of being whole.

You say that if I truly want to know you,

I must count everything but Christ a loss;

You ask me to exchange my will for yours, Lord,

To trade contentment’s kingdom for a cross.

And so I come before you, weak but willing;

I seek to walk your path, and not my own;

I choose to share the crown of thorns you wore, Lord,

Until I kneel before your royal throne.

B.J. Hoff