How precious is Gethsemane to every Christian heart, A place to worship, to adore,…and weep. In thought I stand with three disciples there, And while the Savior prays he begs us vigil keep. How very close we stand, the distance of a stone’s throw, We hear ‘strong crying’ and the sound of tears; His suffering is not hid by darkened curtains, There we behold our Lord bowed low by death’s deep fears.

Salvation wrought before our eyes a few score feet away, And yet so far; our hearts can never enter in That depth of suffering, oceans lie between; But intimates alone have access to this suffering, At stone-throw’s length we meet sin’s mortal scene!

ELSIE D. KUIZEMA