THE BUFFALO MOUND PRESENTS:

“It Must Be…”

A Tribute to Mim Svanoe Rinderknecht

By Cousin Ron Ginther

Vinca, a ground-cover vine, exemplifies steadfastness of purpose and hardy growth and invincible perseverance, without which godliness and love are passing things.

It must be the love of Jesus

To open so wide her door--

She filled hundreds of boxes

To help the unemployed and poor.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That she clothed so many homeless—

The number is enough to shame us all,

And should at least embarrass.

It must be… It must be the love of Jesus

To feed the hungry under the highway span,

And drive the truck herself (to show a woman can!).

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus—

She cared for others above herself.

People meant more to her than personal affluence,

A nice neighborhood, comfort and wealth.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

To give so much and go the extra mile.

She’d give you her coat if you needed one too,

And hand it to you with a hug and a smile.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

Nice folks will never know.

They give to ease a conscience

Or merely make a show.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

So extravagant and free,

That even Christians object to the “waste”

And think you’ve gone a little crazy!

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

To take one person to change the world.

The Pharisees, it scandalized

And with scorn their lips were curled.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That doesn’t know when to stop.

You know she’s got it when she sees a mess

And is the first to grab a mop!

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That’s lost all worldly pride,

For whom our comfort zone means nothing

Because she’s taken the Samaritan’s side.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus—

Have we finally got the point?

The same love saved your sin-sick soul

In your condo or honky tonk joint!

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That we should have in equal part—

Or do we give in careful measure

And dole out with half a heart?

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus—

Though we richly received

Now do we share?

Or do we let go a trickle

And for the poor don’t really care?

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That exposes the poverty within,

For when we think love’s too costly,

That’s when we starve spiritually within.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

That opens the Pearly Gates wide,

But if we don’t follow our Master

We’ll never walk through inside.

It must be…

It must be the love of Jesus

To show us our lack though it hurts.

He’d rather see us turned to givers

Than miss a reward big as Myrt’s.

“Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall be given into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye use, it shall be measured back to you. -–Luke 6: 38. This verse was Aunt Myrtle’s favorite verse, or one of her favorite verses, for she was always quoting it in my hearing. Her daughter Mim certainly took it to heart.

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