I have remembered my long-time dear friend and former Pastor [now Pastor Emeritus], Hershael W. York, quoting this little poem before in his sermons, relating it to his father, Wallace York.

And then, in a recent conversation, he referenced it again. I asked Hershael, when he had the time, to please jot down the lines of the poem and send it to me — I wanted to remember it.

So, he sent me this snapshot of the poem Wallace had hand-written in one of the Bibles he used. I also enjoyed a decades-long close friendship and ministry partnership with Wallace – and we shared between us a sweet symbiotic bonding and fellowship of our spirits.

Wallace embodied the sweetness of this brotherly love, kindness, and gentleness expressed in the poem. He was a true ‘Barnabas,’ peacemaker, ‘man of peace’ – while, at the same time, tenaciously holding onto his own doctrinal convictions.

I, too, embrace the sentiment of the poem, and treasure this hand-written reminder of my friend’s exemplary testimony.