The Gray Days of November - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

Here is an interesting and honest comparison of November of the year with November of life. As we age let us hope for and strive towards that riper wisdom and steadier mindset that our honorable aged folks in the faith so often attain. I am not an expert by any stretch, but I think that in order to attain this attitude, we have to want it and seek it at the feet of Jesus, hearing His word.

The Gray Days of November

The gray days of November

No plaint from me shall win;

I shut the fog and mist all out,

And shut the fire-shine in;

I draw my chair the closer

To where its warm glow cheers,

And, dreaming in the firelight,

Dream back across the years.

No happier days, no better,

My lost youth gave to me,

With flowers in every meadow

And songs from every tree;

That was the time of growing;

This is the time of rest;

Bloom falls, but fruiting follows,

And each in turn is best.

God giveth of His glory

An ever-changing view;

The old things pass forever;

He maketh all things new;

Life knoweth here no beauty

That shall not fade away;

Some better things He sendeth,

And these are mine today.

Mine is the riper wisdom

That comes with graying hair;

Mine is the fuller knowledge

Of God's great love and care;

Mine is the clearer vision;

Mine is the wider view;

And mine the hoarded memories

Of friendships kind and true.

Mine is the steadier patience

To bear the ills of life;

Mine is the sturdier courage

To meet the daily strife;

Mine is the faith serener

Than ever youth could know

To walk the way appointed

Through sunshine or through snow.

The gray days lead to white days

Of peace and silence deep,

A stiller hush of resting

When Earth and I shall sleep;

And then - a glorious waking

When broken ties all mend.

Through gray days of November

I wait the long year's end.

By Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 92:13-15 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish
in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright:
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you,
who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of their conversation.