Love’s Refining

Sanded long with upmost care 
‘Til satiny and smooth 
When a finish was applied 
Wood grains rose up quite rude 

Then with sanding once again
Pressure wielded precisely 
The wood in places yielded fine 
In other spots not nicely

Still the wood-smith worked his craft 
Refusing to destroy it 
More than just to feed his fire 
He purposed to refine it 

And while the wood endured the plane 
The file and the sanding 
Much harder did the wood-smith work 
To make the wood outstanding 

To think our LORD a carpenter 
Works past our tears and whining
With steady careful Master’s hands
He loves us while refining 

The Father’s heart holds us close 
Knows all our wounds and bruises
In tenderness and strength He bears
Love for us He chooses