A HYMN OF TRUST

 

A HYMN OF TRUST

Hymns are songs of praise to God and are used in religious services, There are also collections of hymns in the form of books used by devotees in their homes by those who have a firm faith in God’s help through thick and thin.

            “A Hymn of Trust” is written by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841—1935). He was an American jurist from 1902 to 1932. He also wrote poetry, preferably devotional. He is known as fireside poet together with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell. The hymn which is given below expresses everlasting  faith in God’s help in all adverse  circumstances.  God , says the poet, never lets down His children.  He changes pain into pleasure and fear into fearlessness: :.

                        (1)“We smile at pain while thou art near.”

                        (2)“No path we shun, no darkness dread,

                        Our hearts still whispering, thou art near.”        

                         

                        (3) “Content to suffer while we know,

                        Living and dying , thou art near.”

 

The full text of the hymn reads  as follows:

 

“O love divine, that stooped to share

Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear!

On thee we cast each earth-born care;

We smile at pain while thou art there.

 

Though long the weary way we tread,

And sorrow crown each lingering year  ,

No path we shun , no darkness dread,

Our hearts still whispering, thou art near.

 

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,’

And trembling faith is changed to fear,

The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf,

Shall softly tell us, thou art near.

 

On thee we rest our burdening woe,

O love divine, for ever dear!

Content to suffer while we know,

Living and dying, thou art near.”

 

                                                *********

G.R.Kanwal

31 October 2023