Day Eleven - For the Beauty of the Earth

This hymn reminds me of my school days. It was a popular song in our school assemblies at my junior school. I do not think all those years ago I really appreciated the wonderful words.

For the beauty of the Earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies;

Lord of all to Thee we raise

This our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light;

Lord of all...

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth and friends above;

For all gentle thoughts and mild:

Lord of all...

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given,

Graces, human and divine,

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven;

Lord of all...

The hymn was written in 1864 by Folliot Pierpoint and was said to have been inspired by the view of his hometown, Bath, on a spring day. Although written over 150 years ago the words are still relevant today. It reminds us of Gods wonderful creation and the gifts he has given us.

The first two verses list the many wonders of the world that God has given us from the very earth we live in, the days and nights, the sun and moon, the stars and trees. All these things should remind us of Gods great love for us as we benefit from them every day.

Verse three reminds us that God gave us families and friends, the joy of human love, to love us and help us daily, just as we love and help them.

And the fourth verse reminds us of the best gift that God has given humankind, His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, a gift so freely given and as a result, we can have peace with God here on earth and the hope of Eternal joy in Heaven.

Yes, the beauty of Gods creation is all around us, changing with every season. Maybe it is easier to see and feel God’s presence in the lakes and mountains of Austria or the Canyons of America or the grassland and plains of Africa to name but a few, but do we take for granted what is on our doorsteps. In our streets and gardens, in our parks and towns, there is, if we look carefully, a whole array of flowers, trees, wildlife and human life, all given to us by our loving Heavenly Father.

So, this lovely little hymn, sometimes regarded as old fashioned or just a school hymn, has so much still to say to us all. It should remind us to say thank you to God and to appreciate the wonder and beauty of Gods creation in all around us and in the lives of our friends and families, it should be a reminder that we should take care of all that God has given us, for all these things He has created just for us!

Julie Burnett