For The Beauty of the Earth

 As the days lengthen and the temperatures rise, the earth seems to come alive again.  Each day brings new things in the garden.  The bulbs planted last fall reward us with beautiful blooms, trees that look lifeless all winter suddenly come alive with color.

Each morning begins with song ~ beautiful melodies sung to us by the songbirds.

Every time I step outside I am in awe of the beauty unfolding all around me and I am reminded of a hymn.  As I wander through the garden the words to this hymn are playing in my head.

For the Beauty of the Earth

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 grateful 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, to thee we raise,

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

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, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore

Lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore

Her pure sacrifice of love,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

Ever since I can remember this hymn has been one of my favorites.   In searching for the words, I learned that the lyrics were written in 1864 by Folliot S. Pierpoint.  The following information was taken from this website.

Folliot Sandford Pierpoint was taking a walk one late Spring day, in the lovely area surrounding his home in Bath, England. Overwhelmed with the beauty he saw, he sat down and wrote "For the Beauty of the Earth." Not only does Pierpoint thank God for His beautiful creation, but also for family, friends and other gifts God has bestowed upon us.

His list of blessings includes the natural beauty of earth and skies, the amazing creation called the "human being" and the gift of time. But some of his warmest words are used to thank God for the joy that family and friends—living and departed—have given, and continue to give to our lives.

~ Mom & I - Easter 2009 ~

As I prepare to celebrate Easter with my family, I remember the family members who will not be at our table this year and these particular words from a hymn written so many years ago hold particular significance:

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above

May you find joy in the beauty of Springtime.