Favorite Verses

This page contains poetry, hymns and scriptures that have especially
touched my heart.  I hope they will bless you as well.



 

To My Grown-Up Son

My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn't have much time for you.
I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And asked me please to share your fun,
I'd say, "A little later, Son".
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past...
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play,
No good-night kiss, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to!

Author Unknown
Source

 
 
Baby
Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.

Where did you get those eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you find that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.
 
 


Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into hooks and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

- George MacDonald
    19th Century

 
 
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

          Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
          God of glory, Lord of love!
          Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
          Opened to the sun above.

          Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, 
          Drive the dark of doubt away.
          Giver of immortal gladness,
          Fill us with the light of day.

          All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
          Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays.
          Stars and angels sing around Thee,
          Center of unbroken praise.

          Field and forest, vale and mountain, 
               flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
          Chanting bird and flowing fountain, 
          Call us to rejoice in Thee!

          Thou art giving and forgiving,
          Ever blessing, ever blessed;
          Wellspring of the joy of living,
          Ocean depth of happy rest!

          Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
          All who live in love are Thine;
          Teach us how to love each other, 
          Lift us to the joy divine.

Traditional

 
 
Mary speaks:

O you who bear the pain of the whole earth,
    I bore you.
O you whose tears give human tears their worth,
    I laughed with you.
You, who, when your hem is touched, give power,
    I nourished you.
Who turn the day to night in this dark hour,
    light comes from you.
O you who hold the world in your embrace, 
    I carried you.
Whose arms encircled the world with your grace,
    I once held you.
O you who laughed and ate and walked the shore,
    I played with you.
And I, who with all others, you died for,
    now I hold you.

May I be faithful to this final test:
in this last time I hold my child, my son,
his body close enfolded to my breast,
the holder held:  the bearer borne.
Mourning to joy:  darkness to morn.
Open, my arms:  your work is done.

Madeleine L'Engle
20th century
Copyright information


 
 
Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul:  the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still my soul:  thy best, thy heav'nly friend
Thro' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul:  thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul;  the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul:  the hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul:  when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina von Schlegel
tr. Jane L. Borthwick

 
 
The Lord Bless You 
and Keep You

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up
the light of His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24

 
 

Acknowledgments

"To My Grown-Up Son", author unknown.  Appeared in the spring/summer 2001 Crayon Soup catalog (link no longer accessible).

Permission for use of copyrighted work is gratefully acknowledged as follows:

"Mary speaks" by Madeleine L'Engle.  Reproduction of this poem without permission is a violation of law.  This poem is reproduced here by permission (02/2000) of Harold Shaw Publishers, now an imprint of Random House's WaterBrook Press.  It is taken from A Cry Like a Bell, ©1987, ISBN 0-87788-148-0.  Available at your local or online bookstore.

To the best of my knowledge, the rest of the above works are in the public domain.


 
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Heaven's Babies

 

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