Whose vibrant colors gleam
But I can thread a needle
And sew a little seam.
I have no silver notes to turn
Into a lovely song
But I can sit and listen
To the tune and hum along.
I cannot preach a sermon
To edify the year
But I can say a little prayer
That God can always hear.
I cannot climb a mountain
All wreathed in clouds of white
But I can walk a woodland path
And feel my heart grow light.
I cannot paint a masterpiece
I cannot carve in stone
But there is something I can do
That is my very own.
For though I do not weave or climb
Nor paint, nor carve, nor sing
Somehow I find a bit of God
In every living thing.
God, help me on this sea of life
Toward the Eternal city,
To not pass up the wayside ports ~
Compassion, love and pity.
Oh, let me not be so absorbed
In making a safe landing
For my small barge I'll miss the port
Of human understanding.
Oh, let me not be so engrossed
In reaching that far goal
I'll fail to hear the faint, far cry
Of some lost, sinking soul.
Oh, let me not forget, dear God
That I was once lost too
And someone took the time to point
Me lovingly to you.
Life's sea is rough, the night is dark
For little ships that roam
Please let me be a lifeline, God,
To lead them safely home.
Life is too short for grievances
For quarrels and for tears,
What's the use of wasting
Precious days and precious tears.
If there's something to forgive
Forgive without delay
Be generous, forget the past
And take the broader view,
Cast away all bitterness and
Let the sunshine through.
If it's within your power
A broken heart to mend,
Remember ~ Love is all that
Really matters ~ in the end.
We walk in a world that is strange and unknown
And in the midst of the crowd we still feel alone.
We question our purpose, our part and our place
In this vast land of mystery suspended in space.
We probe and explore and try hard to explain
The tumult of thoughts that our minds entertain.
But all of our probings and complex explanations
Of man's inner feelings and fears and frustrations
Still leave us engulfed in the mystery of life
With all of its struggles and suffering and strife.
Unable to fathom what tomorrow will bring ~
But there is one truth to which we can cling.
For while life's a mystery we can't understand
The great giver of life is holding our hand.
And safe in his care there is no need for seeing
For in him we live and move and have our being.
Life passes by so fast, God
I know I'm sure to miss
A vital part unless you keep
Reminding me of this.
There's so much that I want to do
How often I've been told
It always does around the time
That we are growing old.
For everything a season ~
It's wise as well as just
But I had rather wear me out
Than fall apart with rust.
Life passes by so fast, God
The days, the months, the years
God, keep a smile upon my lips
And blot away the tears.
Teach me to lean upon your arm
When pain and sickness strike
To tell the facts from fancies
That sometimes look alike.
Life passes by so fast, God
And yet how kind you are
In granting me the precious years
That I have had so far.
So let the days grow shorter
The darkest shadows part
But put the wrinkles on my face
And never on my heart.
God of love,
there are days
when the burdens we carry
hurt our shoulders
and wear us down
when the road seems dreary and endless
the skies gray and threatening
when our lives have no music in them
and our hearts are lonely
and our souls have lost their courage.
Show us warmth and happiness
we pray.
Turn our hearts
to where the future
is full of promise.
Glancing at the pattern
Of my life's rare tapestry
It seemed the threads of darkness
Were all that I could see.
I failed to see the glitter
Or the gold beyond the gray
The myriad lovely colors
Of life's joys along the way.
Until I saw the pattern
Formed by love's forgiving touch
That showed me oh so clearly
Life has given me so much.
