Father, I Know That All My Life

Father

I know that all my life

Is por­tioned out for me

And the chang­es that are sure to come

I do not fear to see;

But I ask Thee for a pre­sent mind

Intent on pleas­ing Thee.

I ask Thee for a thought­ful love

Through con­stant watch­ing wise

To meet the glad with joy­ful smiles

And to wipe the weep­ing eyes;

And a heart at lei­sure from it­self

To soothe and sym­pa­thize.

I would not have the rest­less will

That hur­ries to and fro

Seeking for some great thing to do

Or sec­ret thing to know;

I would be treat­ed as a child

And guid­ed where I go.

Wherever in the world I am

In what­so­e’er es­tate

I have a fel­low­ship with hearts

To keep and cul­ti­vate;

And a work of low­ly love to do

For the Lord on whom I wait.

So I ask Thee for dai­ly strength

To none that ask de­nied

And a mind to blend with out­ward life

While keep­ing at Thy side;

Content to fill a lit­tle space

If Thou be glo­ri­fied.

And if some things I do not ask

In my cup of bless­ing be

I would have my spir­it filled the more

With grate­ful love to Thee

More care­ful

not to serve Thee much

But to please Thee per­fect­ly.

There are bri­ers be­set­ting ev­ery path

That call for pa­tient care;

There is a cross in ev­ery lot

And an ear­nest need for pray­er;

But a low­ly heart that leans on Thee

Is hap­py any­where.

In a serv­ice which Thy will ap­points

There are no bonds for me;

For my in­most heart is taught the truth

That makes Thy child­ren free.

And a life of self re­nounc­ing love

Is a life of li­ber­ty.