‘The Lord and I did it between us’

Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 to prosperous parents in Dublin, Ireland. At the age of twenty-five, he decided to leave his native country and migrate to Canada, partly because of the accidental drowning of his fiancée on the night before their wedding. From that time, Scriven developed a totally different pattern of life.

It is said that he gave freely of his limited possessions, even sharing the clothing from his own body, if necessary, and never once refusing to help anyone who needed it. Because of his lifestyle, Scriven was respected by people; but he was considered to be somewhat of an eccentric.

Later, upon learning of his mother’s serious illness and being unable to be with her in Dublin, he wrote her a letter of comfort and enclosed the words of a poem that he wrote.

Then, when he himself fell ill, a friend came to visit him and saw the poem scribbled on scratch paper near the bed. The friend read it and asked Scriven if he had written the words. Scriven, with typical modesty, replied, “The Lord and I did it between us.”

Take a moment and consider these familiar words of Scriven’s poem:

“What a Friend we have in Jesus; All our sins and griefs to bear!

“What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

“O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear,

“All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

“We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“Can we find a Friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?

“Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?

“Precious Savior, still our Refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.”