Gift of Life

The Gift of Life            12/14/95

There is a season
That in spite of its cold
Is warmer than any other

There is a season
That in spite of its deep wintery darkness
Spreads more light than any other

And there is a season
That in spite of its wraps and covers
Reveals the hearts of men.

So have You always ordained
In a wisdom best understood by children--
For they trust love.

For to us you promised a child
And He was born in the gathering cold and the growing dark,
Under cover of hay and breath of beast.
Did his mother have faith in your love?
So shall I.

All You have given is meant to give us faith in Your love--
For we all have the cold
We all brave the deep darkness
And even though we cover them, our hearts are bare.

We are each and every one
Born a babe of a mother,
Into worlds we must grow to know
And did You design for us to trust in Your steadfast love?
So I shall.

For behold-- there comes a day
When there is a cold the season cannot warm
There is a deep darkness that defies the light   
There is a heart that dies
And a child left with no cover.  No cover.
And then faith must walk
Without feeling, or sight, or wisdom
While You, in Your steadfast love, hover
You hover over every step.

Thankyou then, for the gift that children best understand
For that Life which was born to give its life    
Revealing its heart to be warm, and light, and full of trust

Hover steadfast over our us!
Cover us with your great pinions!
And when we fall to the ground in the sleep
Which no human hand can rouse
Lay Your own hands upon our eyes

We know there is a season
And Your rousing hand, it is divine   
So shall we yet live in peace, in a faith that rises upward.



   



        --For Susan Couch, in sympathy for her mother