The Spirit of Christmas by Henry Van Dyke
page 22 of 25 (88%)
page 22 of 25 (88%)
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For the glory of Thy goodness shining in His face.
With joyful voice we praise Thee: For His lowly birth and His rest in the manger, For the pure tenderness of His mother Mary, For the fatherly care that protected Him, For the Providence that saved the Holy Child To be the Saviour of the world. With deep desire we beseech Thee: Help us to keep His birthday truly, Help us to offer, in His name, our Christmas prayer. From the sickness of sin and the darkness of doubt, From selfish pleasures and sullen pains, From the frost of pride and the fever of envy, God save us every one, through the blessing of Jesus. In the health of purity and the calm of mutual trust, In the sharing of joy and the bearing of trouble, In the steady glow of love and the clear light of hope, God keep us every one, by the blessing of Jesus. In praying and praising, in giving and receiving, In eating and drinking, in singing and making merry, In parents' gladness and in children's mirth, In dear memories of those who have departed, In good comradeship with those who are here, In kind wishes for those who are far away, In patient waiting, sweet contentment, generous cheer, |
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