If You Had a Friend

If you had a friend strong, simple, true,
Who knew your faults and who understood;
Who believed in the very best of you,
And who cared for you as a father would;

If you had a friend like this, I say,
So sweet and tender, so strong and true
You'd try to please him in every way
And live at your bravest, now wouldn't you?

His worth would shine in the words you praised
You'd shout his praises--yet--now how odd?
You tell me you haven't got such a friend
You haven't?--I wonder--What of God?

--Robert Lewis