May 13
_Gladness of morning-- To hear the lark begin his flight, And singing, startle the dull Night From his watch-tower in the skies, Till the dappled Dawn doth rise; Then to come in spite of sorrow, And at my window bid good-morrow Through the sweetbrier, or the vine, Or the twisted eglantine._
JOHN MILTON.
O Thou, in whose light we see light, who hast lifted the shadows of night from our dwellings, complete now in our behalf Thy ministry of light, we beseech Thee, and let the day star arise in our hearts. Make clear Thy face unto us. Rise with Thy morning upon our souls. May the light which envelops us throughout the day be the radiance of Thy presence. May our eyes behold only what Thou revealest and our lives be warmed with the glow of Thy love. O, that we may be new-born like the day and live a new life in Thy mercies which are new every morning; that our love may rise fresh as the dawn and our obedience be as sure as the path of the law. Let no shadow from the past dim the joy of Thy presence. Scatter the darkness of sense and self within us. As the morning reveals, interprets and fulfils the beauties of a world which was wrapped in night, may the mystery of our lives unfold, our latent forces be summoned to service, and our hearts find fulness of joy because we live in Thee. Amen.
EVERETT D. BURR.
May 14
_It may be truly said that no man does any work perfectly who does not enjoy his work. Joy in one"s work is the consummate tool without which the work may be done indeed, but without its finest perfectness. Men who do their work without enjoying it are like men carving statues with hatchets. A man who does his work with thorough enjoyment of it is like an artist who holds an exquisite tool which is almost as obedient to him as his own hand, and almost works intelligently with him._
PHILLIPS BROOKS.
O Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou hast placed us where we are and hast given us the work we have to do. We would not seek far and wide for some better place or more honourable task. We pray today for the spirit that shall make us glad in our common toil. We need not to fly away to find enjoyment; we have only to feel that in the duties of this day we are in partnership with Thee,--then shall we be happy that Thou hast called us to so divine a fellowship. Make us strong and earnest and brave--that when the evening shadows fall we shall not look regretfully back because we have been unfaithful,--but that we may be satisfied and happy in the memory that we have been serving with Thee. Amen.
ANONYMOUS.
May 15
_I love the flowers that come about with spring, And whether they be scarlet, white or blue, It mattereth to me not anything, For when I see them full of sun and dew, My heart doth get so full with its delight, I know not blue from red, nor red from white._
ALICE CARY.
Father Divine, we remember Thee at the beginning of another day, and the obedience to Thy laws of life which Thou dost require. About us is Thy beautiful world, thrilling with new life. We would that our lives today may be likewise beautiful, restrained from sin against body and spirit.
As there is now in the earth, so there is always in human souls a springtide ready to burst forth into beautiful living. In our hearts there is always the stirring energy of a spiritual spring that needs but the warmth of Thy heavenly sunshine. Let that warmth now stream into our hearts that our lives today may show forth Thy praise. Amen.
MINOT O. SIMONS.
May 16
Violet: "_Well, but surely at least one ought to be afraid of displeasing G.o.d; and one"s desire to please Him should be one"s first motive._"
Lecturer: "_He never would be pleased with us, if it were, my dear.
When a father sends his son out into the world--suppose as an apprentice--fancy the boy"s coming home at night, and saying, "Father, I could have robbed the till to-day; but I didn"t because I thought you wouldn"t like it." Do you think the father would be particularly pleased?" (Violet is silent). "He would answer, would he not, if he were wise and good, "My boy, though you had no father, you must not rob tills." And nothing is ever done so as really to please our Great Father, unless we would also have done it, though we had had no Father to know of it._"
JOHN RUSKIN.
Father of Life, Thy children raise their thoughts in prayer to Thee at the dawning of each day. Their prayer a.s.serts love, trust and conformity to Thy will. May the spirit of prayer abide with us the day through, that we may be dutiful and worthy. The moral law is Thy way of life, may we make it our way by intelligent obedience. To know Thee aright and to find our joy in Thy life is to have fullness of being through purity and strength. O Father, may we be as those who broaden and deepen and purify life by word and deed that none may suffer loss through us, but find aid to reach the perfect life in Thee. Amen.
WILSON M. BACKUS.
May 17
_Through the harsh noises of our day A low sweet prelude finds its way: Through clouds of doubt and creeds of fear A light is breaking, calm and clear._
_Henceforth my heart shall sigh no more For olden time and holier sh.o.r.e: G.o.d"s love and blessing, then and there Are now and here and everywhere._
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.
Our Father, as we enter upon the duties of this new day, incline our minds and hearts unto Thee. May we feel, amid its harsh noises, the a.s.surance of Thy love and care. If doubt or fear a.s.sail us may we turn unto Thee who art the source of life, love and light, and find calm and peace. We would forget the things behind and make the most of the present. We rejoice that today is better than yesterday and that tomorrow will be better than today. Thou art here now, as Thou art everywhere always, to bless us with Thy love and care. Direct us through the hours of this day and may its close find us better children of Thine. Amen.
JOHN B. REARDON.
May 18
_The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world"s joy. The lonely pine of the mountain top waves its sombre boughs, and cries, "Thou art my sun!" And the little meadow violet lifts its cup of blue, and whispers with its perfumed breath, "Thou art my sun!" And the grain in a thousand fields rustles in the wind, and makes answer, "Thou art my sun!" So G.o.d sits, effulgent, in heaven, not for a favored few, but for the universe of life; and there is no creature so poor or so low that he may not look up with child-like confidence, and say, "My Father, Thou art mine!"_
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
O G.o.d, the Eternal Source of all life, we rejoice that there are no bounds to Thy love. We thank Thee that Thou givest us all things richly to enjoy. May we learn that Thy bounties are for all human beings. Make the hearts of men eager that the ignorant, the lowly, the poor, the wayward, may come into the full estate of knowing that they are children of G.o.d. Let them in no way be denied the joy of unfolding the divinity within them. Lead us all into those fields of labor where we can be our best selves and develop our lives by what we do to meet the growing demands of truth and love and goodness. Wherever the morning breaks and the sunshine falls upon human faces, may its cheer make homes happy and true, men and women good, and little children joyous. Amen.
ALVA ROY SCOTT.
May 19
_Hear the Master"s risen word!
Delving spades have set it free, Wake! the world has need of thee, Rise and let thy voice be heard, Like a fountain disinterred, Upward springing, singing, sparkling; Through the doubtful shadows darkling; Till the clouds of pain and rage Brooding o"er the toiling age, As with rifts of light are stirred By the music of the Word; Gospel for the heavy-laden, answer to the labourer"s cry; "Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me: cleave the wood, and there am I."_
HENRY VAN d.y.k.e.
G.o.d of light and strength and beauty, for this day we thank Thee. The morning hours come to us freighted with messages of gladness. Thou, our Father, art refreshing our spirits, and home seems dearer, love more sacred and the way of duty clearer before our waiting feet. We thank Thee for life as it is given us, day by day. Help us to fill it with honest, cheerful, fruitful service. May we realize and rejoice in the n.o.bility of labor, and may we learn how it is that a child of Thine, standing in his own place, giving himself to the tasks of the hour, imparts strength and courage to his fellow-worker, and helps the world forward in the path of righteousness and peace. So may Thy will be done in and through us. Amen.
JOHN P. FORBES.
May 20
_O the green things growing, the green things growing The faint sweet smell of the green things growing!
I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve, Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing._
DINAH MULOCK CRAIG.
_Not all these sweets, these sounds, this vernal blaze, Is but one joy, express"d a thousand ways; And honey from the flowers, and song of birds, Are from the poet"s pen, his overflowing words._
LEIGH HUNT.
O Thou who art the Creator of life in every form in which it is expressed in the earth, we thank Thee for the gra.s.s and the flowers, the trees and the shrubs, the music of the streams and the melody of the birds. As nature is ever vocal with Thy praise, so may our hearts be attuned to deepest joy that we are a part of Thy creation and made capable of constant exultation in the beauty and the beneficence of Thy purpose therein displayed. In this spirit may we rejoice and be glad in this new day which Thou hast made for us. Amen.
I. J. MEAD.