For the Beauty

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (The Day Is Done)

A song made all the difference in the world to me one night. I was emotionally "on empty," exhausted, drained, irritable, unhappy, and nearing a breakdown. Then my wonderful husband came home and took the girls, and I locked myself in my room with my journal to work through my emotional mess. Before I started scribbling away, I hit play on the c.d. player next to my bed thinking it might help to listen to some soothing music. I know God is aware of me and knew exactly how to get through to me that night.

As I wrote my feelings in my journal, I suddenly stopped and turned my ear to listen to this song. It was like it reached out and slowed my hand, calmed my racing thoughts, and gently whispered in my ear the words I have sung so many times. I closed my eyes and breathed and listened and let the peace and comfort and healing balm of the Spirit wash over me. I have it on c.d., but here is a sample of the version I was listening to. And here are the words I was singing in my head with tears streaming down my face...

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

(Text by Folliott S. Pierpoint)

Thank you, my dear, loving, patient, kind, all-knowing Father in Heaven.