Poems (Procter)/Thankfulness

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THANKFULNESS.
MY God, I thank Thee who hast made
  The Earth so bright;
So full of splendor and of joy,
  Beauty and light;
So many glorious things are here,
  Noble and right!

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
  Joy to abound;
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
  Circling us round,
That in the darkest spot of Earth
  Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
  Is touched with pain;
That shadows fall on brightest hours
  That thorns remain;
So that Earth's bliss may be our guide,
  And not our chain.

For Thou who knowest, Lord, how soon
  Our weak heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
  Yet all with wings,
So that we see, gleaming on high,
  Diviner things!

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
  The best in store;
 ​We have enough, yet not too much
  To long for more:
A yearning for a deeper peace,
  Not known before.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls
  Though amply blest,
Can never find, although they seek,
  A perfect rest—
Nor ever shall, until they lean
  On Jesus' breast!

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