Trusting the Father Who Knows Our Frailty

ALMIGHTY! we bless Thee for that man of olden time, unto whom Thou didst reveal the great truth that we are Thine offspring. When because of our great ignorance and weakness, for the sin which we so often strive against, but so often fail to overcome, we do lose faith in ourselves, may we still remember this—we are Thine offspring. Whom Thou hast created, Thou wilt bless. Thou knowest our frame, Thou rememberest that we are but dust.

Father! we give Thee thanks, for how often Thou doest us good and we know not of it! While we wake and while we sleep, Thou art weaving for us this beautiful robe of summer time. In the dark, still, warm earth Thou art working; soon shall the flower spring forth, and the tender green leaves flutter in the sunshine. These things Thou doest for us with no asking of ours; for these we toil not, neither do we spin. Father! is it that while we wait, and while we suffer, and while we sleep, Thou art weaving for these poor souls of ours some bright summer robe, which one day, not here, but far off, we shall joyfully wear? Waits there for us some land of summer sunshine, which yet we know not of? where the flowers do always spring, and the leaves do never fade; where, taught by angels, we shall quickly learn a song into which no strain of sadness comes; where, all white and fair, we shall be arrayed in garments not wrought by us, but wrought for us by Him whose offspring we are?

Father! we would despise nothing which Thou givest us to do; we would take pride in doing it well, for it is Thy work. But when our tired hands find leave to rest, may our souls joyfully rise to Thee; may some sweet hour of thought refresh us, some cool resting-place of prayer bring strength again.

We would serve Thee, but we are all too weak. Forsake us not, and we shall do better; keep close by us, and we shall one day do well. Let us be as a little child, who fears no danger, and knows no darkness while a father is near. May our hand be held in Thine, may our eye be fixed on Thee. May ours be the quiet mind, the watchful eye, the trustful hand. And Thou wilt be very gentle to us, for Thou knowest our frame, Thou rememberest that we are but dust.—AMEN.