By:
William John Hocking, Editor
FILL Thou my life, O Lord, my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor even the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in every part.
Praise in the common things of life,
Its goings out and in;
Praise in each duty and each deed,
However small and mean.
Praise in the common words I speak,
Life’s common looks and tones,
In intercourse at hearth or board
With my beloved ones.
Not in the temple-crowd alone,
Where holy voices chime,
But in the silent paths of earth,
The quiet rooms of time.
Enduring wrong, reproach, or loss,
With sweet and steadfast will;
Loving and blessing those who hate,
Returning good for ill.
Surrendering my fondest will
In things or great or small;
Seeking the good of others still,
Nor pleasing self at all.
Fill every part of me with praise;
Let all my being speak
Of Thee and of Thy love, O Lord,
Poor though I be, and weak.
So shall no part of day nor night
From sacredness be free,
But all my life, in every step,
Be fellowship with Thee.
H.B.