My God, I Thank Thee

My God

I thank Thee

who hast made

The earth so bright

So full of splen­dor and of joy

Beauty and light;

So many glo­ri­ous things are here

Noble and right.

I thank Thee

too

that Thou hast made

Joy to abound;

So many gen­tle thoughts and deeds

Circling us round

That in the dark­est spot of earth

Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy

Is touched with pain

That sha­dows fall on bright­est hours

That thorns re­main;

So that earth’s bliss may be our guide

And not our chain.

For thou who know­est

Lord

how soon

Our weak heart clings

Hast giv­en us joys

ten­der and true

Yet all with wings;

So that we see gleam­ing on high

Diviner things.

I thank Thee

Lord

that Thou hast kept

The best in store;

We have enough

yet not too much

To long for more:

A yearn­ing for a deep­er peace

Not known be­fore.

I thank Thee

Lord

that here our souls

Though amp­ly blessed

Can nev­er find

al­though they seek

A per­fect rest;

Nor ev­er shall

un­til they lean

On Je­sus’ breast.