Dear God, Our Father

Dear God

our Fa­ther

at Thy knees con­fess­ing

Our sins and fol­lies

close in Thine em­brace

Children for­giv­en

hap­py in Thy bless­ing

Deepen our spir­its to re­ceive Thy grace.

Not for more beau­ty would our eyes en­treat Thee

Flooded with beau­ty

beau­ty ev­ery­where;

Only for keen­er vi­sion that may greet Thee

In all Thy ves­tures of the earth and air.

The stars and rain­bows are Thy won­drous wear­ing

Sunlight and sha­dow moving on the hills;

Holy the mea­dow where Thy feet are far­ing

Holy the brookl­et that Thy laugh­ter fills.

Not for more love our crav­ing hearts im­plore Thee

But for more pow­er to love un­til they glow

Like hearths of com­fort

ea­ger to re­store Thee

Hidden in hu­man wretch­ed­ness and woe.

In souls most sull­en Thou art soft­ly dream­ing

Of saints and he­roes wrought from Thy di­vine

Pity and pa­tience

still the lost re­deem­ing

Deepen our spir­its for love like Thine.