The flowers are the thoughts of God.
They bloom in sun and shadow,
By traveled path, or virgin sod,
In every lovely meadow;
In dooryards where the children play,
And hours are swiftly winging;
And Love comes at the close of day,
Its selfless tribute bringing.
Silent they grow, each in its place,
With cheer for all who love them,
Breathing their perfume in the face
Of all who bend above them.
They blossom where the weary plod
Their ways of toil and duty.
The flowers are the thoughts of God;
His love speaks in their beauty.
A Grace for Meals (1926)
[Transcriber’s note: All verses are italicized.]
Thou who doest hold all things at Thy command
The blessing of the sunshine and the rain,
Thou never hast withheld Thy kindly hand
From giving us the fruitage of the plain.
Long hast Thou sheltered us from every storm.
Long hast Thou seen that we were duly fed.
Long hast Thou kept our fireside bright and warm.
And so we thank Thee for our daily bread.
As we assemble at our simple board
In all the gladness that is ours today,
We thank Thee for Thy presence with us, Lord,
And ask that Thou wilt be our guest alway.
May all Thy children, wheresoe’er they be,
Share in Thy bounty, by Thy hand be led,
And lift their hearts from every land and sea,
With us, to thank Thee for their daily bread.