It Fell upon a Summer Day

It fell up­on a sum­mer day

When Je­sus walked in Ga­li­lee

The mo­thers from a vil­lage brought

Their child­ren to His knee.

He took them in His arms

and laid

His hands on each re­mem­bered head;

Suffer these lit­tle ones to come

To Me

He gent­ly said.

Forbid them not. Un­less ye bear

The child­like heart your hearts with­in

Unto My king­dom ye may come

But may not en­ter in.

Master

I fain would en­ter there;

O let me fol­low Thee and share

Thy meek and low­ly heart

and be

Freed from all world­ly care.

Of in­no­cence

and love

and trust

Of qui­et work

and sim­ple word

Of joy

and thought­less­ness of self

Build up my life

good Lord.

All hap­py thoughts

and gen­tle ways

And lov­ing­kind­ness dai­ly giv­en

And free­dom through obe­di­ence gained

Make in my heart Thy heav­en.

O hap­py thus to live and move!

And sweet this world

where I shall find

God’s beau­ty ev­ery­where

His love

His good in all man­kind.

O Fa­ther

grant this child­like heart

That I may come to Christ

and feel

His hands on me in bless­ing laid

Love-giving

strong to heal.