Giving Thanks

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen

--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn
(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

Mothers

These leucojum are from my grandmother's garden, from many years gone by.

How Blessed

The little things of life are all so sweet,
The morning meadows wet with dew;
The dance of daisies in the noon, the blue
Of far-off hills where twilight shadows lie,

The night with all its tender of mystery of sound
And silence, and God's starry sky!
Oh! life--the whole life--is far too fleet,
The things of everyday are all so sweet,
The common things of life are all so dear.

The waking in the warm half-gloom
To find the old familiar room,
The scents and sounds and sights that never tire,
The homely work, the plans, the lilt of baby's laugh,
The crackle of the open fire;
The waiting, then the footsteps coming near,
The opening door, the handclasps and the kiss--
How blessed, after all, the now and here!
The common things of life are all so dear!
                              - Author Unknown


Happy Mother's Day

Boston

Walk Beside Me

Walk beside me, O, my Saviour,

Through the morning's sparkling dew,

Then as daylight grows still brighter,

For each task my strength renew:

When the evening spreads its shadows

O'er the way that I must go,

Still thy presence close beside me

Will to me sweet peace bestow.

Walk beside me, O, my Saviour,

Through this darkening vale of tears,

For if Thou art close beside me

My faint heart can keep no fears:

When at last the morning breaketh

In the land of endless day,

Still my prayer shall be, dear Saviour,

Walk beside me all the way. . .

-L. P. Lehman, Jr.

Thinking of spring

I like many things garden related, but I especially like to read books by Sharon Lovejoy. Her illustrations are whimsical, the text is informative and her approach to gardening is organic. Many of her books are geared toward gardening with children. If you like to garden, I'm sure you'll like her blog.


Patti