An After Christmas Prayer

This, the 12th Day of Christmas, is about over. The festive lights fade and the “hard times” which so often meet us in this “warring world” loom large in front of us.

Refusing to avoid the foreboding future and resolving to meet each challenge head on we pray …

Our God, our Father, make us strong,
When tasks of life seem hard and long,
To greet them with this triumph song:
Thy will be done.

Draw from our timid eyes the veil
To show, where earthly forces fail,
Thy power and love must still prevail –
Thy will be done.

With confident and humble mind
Freedom in service we would find,
Praying through every toil assigned:
Thy will be done.

Things deemed impossible we dare,
Thine is the call and Thine the care:
Thy wisdom shall the way prepare –
Thy will be done.

All power is here and round us now;
Faithful we stand in rule and vow,
While ‘tis not us, but ever Thou:
Thy will be done.

Heaven’s music chimes the glad days in;
Hope sours beyond death, pain, and sin;
Faith shouts in triumph, Love must win –
They will be done.

Frederic Mann, 1928