Mary’s Choice

Jesus, engrave it on my heart,
That Thou the one thing needful art;
I could from all things parted be,
But never, never, Lord, from thee.

Needful is Thy most precious blood,
Needful is Thy correcting rod,
Needful is Thy indulgent care,
Needful Thy all-prevailing prayer.

Needful Thy presence, dearest Lord,
True peace and comfort to afford;
Needful Thy promise to impart
Fresh life and vigor to my heart.

Needful art Thou to be my stay
Through all life’s dark and thorny way;
Nor less in death Thou’lt needful be,
To bring my spirit home to Thee.

Then needful still, my God, my King,
Thy name eternally I’ll sing;
Glory and praise be ever His—
The “one thing needful” Jesus is.

Taken from “The Changed Cross”