pages of a letter; for such a time as this.

This has been a most interesting year.   I wonder what I’ll think when I look back on this year — in years to come.  I wonder if the rough edges will seem smooth later on and I wonder if the smooth days will be remembered with even more fondness.  Hmmm.  It’s interesting to think of all this.    As I looked back at the very few posts over the last several months, I noticed I’ve been sort of stuck in a recurring theme: journaling, remembering, recording…  messages that will be left behind.

Tonight, cleaning in one of the bedrooms upstairs, the drawers of a very old desk were removed and papers were retrieved that had slipped behind the drawers and were stuck in the back of the old desk — obviously there for a very long time.  Envelopes, lists, a program and two pages of a letter.  I read some as I walked downstairs to my desk.  Here I have, left behind: a couple of random pages of a letter, a beautifully hand written letter.  Now, a little while later, I find myself wondering if the Lord had those loose pages stuck in there — tucked away — for just such a time as this?

I honestly believe that finding those pages was a little gift the Lord had tucked away for me — a sort of affirmation, encouragement and inspiration to press on here — to share different things He is doing, to offer ideas, hope and some encouragement along the way.

Whoever wrote this letter surely knew and loved the Lord.  O, not a casual love — nor a simple, intellectual understanding, but a deep abiding love.  What a gift that life must’ve been and surely is to me tonight.  I wonder, was it a letter to grandma?  Was it a letter from her?  No name — not even the complete letter — just a couple of pages of what must have been a lengthy letter.  I’ll share a few of the lines tonight and perhaps a few more tomorrow, you’ll see just how sweet it is to have sweet, lovingly written, encouraging words tucked away just for, yes: such a time as this.

Have you been thru a dry arid season in your spiritual growth? Is it hard to pray? Does the Bible have a dim meaning?  Dos it cease to feed you spiritually? How about the creepy crawlies of criticism the serpent of temptation that has defeated you and robbed you of the spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace and other delectable fruits of the Spirit?  There’s help for us.

I have been through a season of dryness where it was almost impossible to pray.  The heavens seemed to be brass and one thing after another happened to me until I felt forsaken, drifting in the doldrums going nowhere.  Then I was reminded of a statement:  When you’re in the doldrums and not a breath is stirring, do you sit in your little boat and allow it to remain in the hot sun and shrivel you?  No, a thousand times no.  Grab the oar of faith and the other oar of obedience and row for dear life out of there…”

Next time, I’ll share more of this letter – literally, a slice of life.

 

What if today was your last?

What if you knew today was the last day you’d be alive. What would you do — or how would you spend this day? It seems that most of the time people think of what’s on their “bucket list” — you know, the list of stuff people want to do before they die. I don’t know why the thought of death triggers an urgency to get out the bucket list to see what could be done. But I was thinking that, in reality, the bucket list is a pretty self-serving deal and pretty much adds nothing to the lives left behind.

I wrote the above and a few more lines for my Welcome Home page on Facebook this morning.  I’ve thought about it throughout the day as I’ve worked in and around our home.  I thought about it as I drove into town on an errand.  What if today was my last day to…

My thoughts drifted into different areas of life.  I thought of the different people in my life — my husband, my children, my parents, all the extended family, my church family and friends… I thought of all the intersecting circles of acquaintances and wondered what I’d do if I really knew today was my last day to see them, to talk to them, to thank them, to bless them… what if I never have another opportunity to see them again?

I think I’ll start a new journal — a thankfulness journal or a gratefulness journal or a gladness journal.  I don’t know what I’ll eventually call it, but I will start to write one and the title will come to me, I’m sure.  Maybe I’ll call it the blessing book.  Yes, that would be a perfect name — bcz I want to write all the blessings I can remember.  O, I’ve done this through the years in all my journals: recording whatever blessing is happening at the time — but I’ve never written a book of blessings — everything in one place.  It would be a perfect book to write bcz I also want to write down the things I want to give people — in terms of blessings.  I want to record the blessings I pray the Lord will work in specific individual’s lives.   So, it’ll be a book of what’s been done for me, what I’ve seen done for others and what I pray the Lord will work in people’s lives.

As an example, I will write the blessings of marriage — and then, specifically, my marriage to my husband.  Not just the wedding, but what God has done through the years bcz of this blessing.  I pray our children — each one — will know the blessing of marriage.  I pray our daughters will know the blessings of motherhood and I pray our sons will know the blessings of fatherhood.   I will write the different faith-builders — the valleys, the mountaintops and pray the Lord will do so in their lives as well.

If this were the last day I could live on the earth, I’d want to be careful to express my gratitude — I hope I wouldn’t want to see one more sunset, eat one more this or that thing, experience one more major accomplishment.   I hope I’d remember to tell each one of my children some specific way they’ve blessed me and how I pray for different and specific things for each of them.  I hope I’d remember to say important things instead of wanting to linger to accomplish more things.

If this were the last day I could live on this earth, I’d want it to be a profitable day for the memories of the people I love.  I wouldn’t want them to remember: On mama’s last day, she checked off another item on her bucket list.  No.  I’d want them to remember an encouraging word, a prayer, a joyful memory, a word of inspiration, a kiss of thanks.

I’d want my last day to be a blessing – so that when it was over, a fragrance would linger.

Vision

A dear friend recently wrote a letter regarding losing vision and had several thoughts regarding the danger of lacking vision, and the importance of having vision or purpose.  I’ve mulled that over.  And over.  I empathized and I actually sort of felt sick at the thought, the tragic thought of losing vision.

And then it struck me (but it wasn’t the first time) that I’ve lost vision.  If you’ve never “lost vision” before, then it’s probably hard to understand how someone could go along, have a great track to run on and then suddenly lose vision.  But it happens.  And if it’s happened to you, you understand. You totally understand.

I started losing vision a long time ago.  For some things — not for everything, for some things.
I got off track — or was rolling down what I see now was a sort of parallel track — thought I was going along fine.  But a parallel track that’s off by 1 degree soon is off by a gaping distance.  In the beginning it’s not so noticeable.  And, maybe for quite a while it’s not so noticeable… but down the way a bit — it’s very noticeable.  Usually to everyone except the one who’s in the car on the now-not-so-parallel track.

I’ve been very tempted to stop writing.  You know… listening to enemy’s voice: why do you write, you don’t have anything to say, you’re worthless, you don’t have any wise words and on and on.  I was tempted to stop accepting invitations to share with women in different venues.  And I did — I did stop altogether.  For a time.  And then I thought: wait a minute — everything I believed I still believe. Everything that was previously important is still important. I may have made a mess out of a lot of things.  I should have done so many things differently.  But I didn’t — and time went by. I’m thankful for the Lord’s great blessing of encouragement and re-creation!  By His grace, many — if not most — of the trials that I thought I’d never pass through have been redeemed and used for my good and His glory.  I wait on Him for finish the work He’s begun — for I know that I know He will complete the work.

Some of my experiences may seem like failures, or circumstances may have changed, but the Truths I stand on, the Truths that guide and inspire me have not changed.   I was tempted — have been tempted many, many times to drop commitments, drop the website, drop this blog, drop other writing projects and move on.  The website’s antiquated.  This blog’s out of date.  The many writing projects are unfinished.  The vision for all these things seemed lost.

The best thing about space and time is that perspective is gained in the passage of time and vision is gained from distance to an object.  For both, clarity is a great blessing.  My indecision has turned out to be a blessing  — I don’t really want to dump the website — it took twelve years to build — it can be redone, it can be redeemed.  And I don’t want to quit writing — I love to write.  I’ve been redeemed.  The Lord has given me a great opportunity. And I really don’t want to miss opportunities to share messages with sisters in the Lord — because He has given me so much.  He has turned my messes into messages.

So, now…
Some of the messages have become messes.
Some of the messes have become messages.

And thinking on this has given me a new vision.  The messages that have become messes?  I’ve decided not to just dismiss them entirely for they are part of who I am and where I’ve been, but I hope to turn them, by the grace of God, back in the messages.

So, now…
My new vision is to clean up some of the messes, give them new meaning.  Share some of the messages that have come from the messes and, again, by the grace of God, be a vessel He can use.  I might add, I’m sure thankful for the husband the Lord gave me — why the Lord blessed me so, I will never know but I’ll be forever grateful!  His insight, his perspective is a gift.  I know, we women tend to see things as all or nothing sometimes — and it takes a wise husband to point out the anchor is still holding… that the ship may be tossing or listing to one side or the other — but the Anchor holds.  The Anchor holds.

Only God can:
turn a MESS into a MESSAGE;
a TEST into a TESTIMONY;
a TRIAL into a TRIUMPH;
a VICTIM into a VICTORY.

A Book of Remembrance

Though I have a number of very favourite or treasured verses I continually recall, there are a few that give me great encouragement and great hope.  Some I have copied and posted in my home, some I have highlighted or underlined and some I have recorded alongside God’s work or answers to prayer, continued petitions, blessings and other heartfelt matters written  in journals.

As I’ve been slowly reading through the Word this year, I’ve been sort of surprised at the number of verses I’ve underlined or highlighted.   I’ve been continually blessed and encouraged  by dated notes beside significant verses or passages.  Some dates or notes point to events I’ve forgotten — others remind me afresh of the great goodness of the Lord.  Still others remind me of the great faithfulness of the Lord.

And so, it is these two things that have prompted this writing today: The Goodness and Faithfulness of the Lord.  Sort of hand in hand with the verse in Philippians 4.8 that says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

God’s Goodness and God’s Faithfulness

Then they that feared the LORD
spake often one to another:
and the LORD hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
—Malachi 3.16

And we do need to be reminded to think on these things, don’t we!?!  For if we don’t determine to think on these things, we tend to think on things that are not true, things that are not honest, things that are not just, things that are not pure, things that are not lovely, things that are not of good report… we tend to drift from virtue and forget praise… we tend not to think on these things.

We must be daily in the Word, we must be daily in prayer, daily in praise and thanksgiving…

That verse in Malachi that I quoted above has particular significance for us — for it is packed with information, admonition, instruction and edification!   As you read it and reread it, you will see it, too.  There are so many things to take away from this verse!  Fear the Lord.  Speak often to one another about Him.  He will listen! He will hear!  He will inspire the writing of His dealings… and it will be for those who fear Him — those who love Him and think on Him.

Your life is a marvelous opportunity!  Your life is a blessing!

So, I’d like to admonish you (or encourage you, at least) to write!  Write what He has done for you.  Write what He has done in you.  Write what He has done through you.  Write what He has done in answer to prayer.  Write a book of remembrance…  let it take time… let it take the rest of your life… but start writing a book of remembrance.  Share your stories with others!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, count your many blessings: see what God has done.

Abandoning Convictions

Time was when people could hold to some basic principles or live by personal convictions — decisions that may or may not be or may not’ve been popular — and yet they could sort of remain unspoken or undeclared.  Publicly, anyway.  Time was when people could hold to convictions and only a small circle of community would’ve been aware of the person’s or couple’s personal convictions.  Now… not so.

With the advent of email, internet chat-rooms and bulletin boards in the 90’s… e-groups list mail and then the explosion of “social media” such “personal convictions” become public declarations.  Write an article about it or write a book about it and, well, there’s the personal conviction in black and white for the whole world to read.  And comment on.

Not lost on me is the fact that our personal convictions can, in many ways, be seen and read of all men.  So, whether we say it or write it,  whether social media publicizes it or not, others can view what we believe or see what our personal convictions are by the decisions we make or the lives we live (this is especially true when our walk doesn’t match our talk).

The influence of our decisions or personal convictions isn’t limited to our circle of “friends” bcz our sphere of influence is much greater than our sphere of acquaintance. It’s amazing how reputation (good! or bad!) spreads.

Awareness or visibility of a personal conviction doesn’t assure accuracy though… other people’s opinions of us or their evaluation of what they think we think or what they think we believe is usually skewed by their personal experience or their convictions.

Their assessment may be further skewed because sometimes our children don’t hold to the same convictions as they mature  — thus, our convictions or beliefs are more critically scrutinized.

I read an article yesterday — didn’t have time to tweet about it, link it on FB or write something here — actually,  it’s probably a good thing, too.

The article is a NYT article written about a couple who once held to (and wrote a book about)  a particular belief  they’ve since abandoned —   conviction(s) they once embraced — they now denounce.

My mind immediately jumped to several conclusions: maybe they never really believed what they said they believed.  Maybe they got all caught up in the literary experience — I mean, we’re all so eloquent, so much cooler online.  Maybe they were following “a man” and not the Spirit of the Lord.  Maybe they were deceived on purpose (a few will catch that one).  Maybe they gave up too soon.  Maybe  they allowed little foxes to spoil the vine.  Maybe they…

I could easily get caught up in all that… maybe it was this, maybe it was that…

And then I stop and think that my concern for this couple is more for another decision they abandoned: the decision to abandon their vows.

Their children will pay a steep price for it.

 

Edit 4.21.2018
An article at Women of Grace [now formerly] Bethany & Sam Torode

 

My first “webinar”

I had the privilege to present a session of Jennifer’s Morning Motivation webinar this morning.  — and what a fun time it was for me!  I hear the “Go to Meeting” commercials on the radio and the process has sounded great, but I’ve never “attended” an online meeting or webinar before!  So, I’m really glad I got to do it today!  I have sooo missed sharing messages or teachings at meetings and retreats and so to have had this opportunity today was a real blessing for me.

I’m always thinking of things I’d like to share with sisters… things the Lord is teaching me, things I’m reading in the Bible, things I’m learning from experiences and observations about marriage and motherhood.

This is by no means a complaint,  but I must say, though it was a wonderful experience this morning… the one element I missed was the interaction with others or the “face to face” experiences I’ve enjoyed at retreats and Titus2 meetings.  Still, I hope the Lord provides for more such opportunities — it was both encouraging and refreshing to me — and I pray it was so for the other ladies!

When I first began thinking of doing podcasts or recorded talks for my website a few years ago, Wes bought me a few books and we talked over how I might proceed — and yet, it never really panned out — it seemed too daunting or too impersonal — I don’t know… whatever it was, I  just never continued to explore options or to learn the process.  Interestingly, after this morning’s experience, I’m glad to know that it’s really quite simple — that, and it was neat that it didn’t feel impersonal.

O, I was sort of flustered in the beginning as I felt like I was swimming in uncharted waters and wasn’t sure how it was going to go… I kept thinking that I wasn’t doing it right — but then things started to flow quickly and easily and I felt very comfortable with that method of communication with so many different sisters!

Technology is incredible, isn’t it!?!?!?!  It’s simply amazing!  Here I was sitting at the computer talking and sharing images and felt like everyone was right in the room with me.  Amazingly, women in many places, thousands of miles apart,  were seeing the same thing… in-cred-ible!

You can listen to the message I gave: here.

I’m so thankful for Jennifer’s great encouragement and patience as I was learning to do this.  You can see her site here.

blessings to you…

One year ago…

Though in many ways it seems longer, it was a year ago today that the Lord gave us a great gift in the form of a miracle.  We know it was by the grace of God that Timothy, who was deathly sick with cerebral malaria, awoke from a coma.

Our family had been at the Oregon Coast for a family reunion; Timothy had just returned from Ghana, West Africa.  He was sick and getting worse by the day.

After several days and medication for what was thought to be Typhoid, his condition was grave, he was so thin and frail; hardly responsive at that point: we knew Timothy needed to get to a hospital right away.  Clearly, the medication he was taking was not addressing his sickness.  It was there after some initial treatment and many liters of fluids that Timothy was slipping into a coma and the doc in ER of Samaritan Hospital began the transfer plans to have Timothy airlifted to OHSU in Portland.  I wrote the story of this whole miracle — you can read it here.

I don’t really know why I snapped the photo (below) with my cell phone that day… I guess it was perhaps a thought that it would be my last opportunity.  I don’t know.

More from my journal that day: “I cannot be bitter should it be God’s plan to take Timothy.”  I read a quote that afternoon inside Timothy’s Bible, “The sovereignty of God is a precious thing if you’re on the right side of it.”

Later, I wrote, “It’s the middle of the night… the waiting room looks strewn with sleeping bodies — all like me, waiting for news, waiting for the morning or maybe the mourning… It just struck me as the nurse told me to come back in 45 minutes, Timothy might not make it.  We might leave here alone — without him.  The thought leaves me unable to breathe.”

It’s a bright and sunny day… it’s now a year later.  Timothy doesn’t remember much of that week, very little of the time in the hospital after he awoke and now, so much has transpired from that time to this.

Timothy has once again traveled to Mexico, to cities in the States for the gospel tent meetings and just returned from Ghana, West Africa.  There is so much work to do, so many who need the gospel… the Lord is not yet finished with his servant, Timothy.  I’m so thankful.

Speech filter

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
proverbs 31.26

As we have “spell-check” to alert us to misspelled words – or a grammar-check to alert us of grammar mistakes, this verse serves a divine speech-check — except that we never get a second chance to say the right thing first.  This verse then would be our speech-filter verse.  The word spoken is spoken – no highlight, delete, re-speak… what’s said is said.   We might tend to say the first thing that comes to our mind — and may not stop and give attention to whether it’s wise or kind.   So then, as we carry on through the day or when we have opportunity to teach or share a thought — we might test our comments by filtering them through this verse.

O, how our lives need filtering.   The filter could be described as the continually abiding life.  This filter might be reveling: am I abiding in Christ? Is what I am thinking and/or saying from the Lord?  This filter is sort of a product of the engrafted Word — learning and continually gaining more understanding from the Bible; having our life committed and yielded to the will, the way and the leading of the Lord by the Holy Spirit.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.”
–proverbs 4.23

I cannot count the number of times I’ve said things — and then said or thought:  O, I shouldn’t have said that!  Or, I can’t believe I said that!  More and more I am seeing that the things I/we say are not from nothing — they come from somewhere.  Has this thought come from a yielded heart, a content life — for encouragement or edification — or is this word or thought borne of bitterness, pride or some other selfish thing?  More succinctly, is this of the Lord or of the enemy?  Ouch.

Second chances we might receive to say the right thing might not come right away — if at all.  We usually know –instantly– that we’ve said the wrong thing or that we spoken in haste or anger or foolishness.   But sometimes we say things we honestly have no idea that the words came across as angry, critical or judgmental.   I am coming to see more and more that humility and forgiveness go a long way — for retrieving  a misspoken word is not like autocorrect for misspelled word.

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
— colossians 4.6

I’m again reminded to use a double filter when speaking:  Is this comment wise?  Is this comment kind?  This double filter would sure prevent many misunderstandings, hurt feelings, rude or inconsiderate comments.   Problem is, we often have hurt feelings over what someone’s said to us — but we tend to forget we ourselves are just as guilty of speaking without grace or speaking without charity.  I am so often reminded of this as I think on past offenses or wonder why someone has said this or that hurtful thing.  And I have to again filter it — and it’s a decision to do so — only this time, I must filter it through the filter of love: love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things.  (1 Corinthians 13.7)    I think that it’s in the remembering of this that much ground is spared in maintaining and for mending relationships and friendships.

Sweet speech, loving kindness and graciousness are always a blessing — speaking otherwise always destroys.  Time and time again I am having this matter tested in my life — and continually I am learning more need for refraining, rephrasing answers, rewording comments, reworking thoughts and speech.  All of the different humbling experiences have been truly for my good — and I’m thankful to have the blessing of correction and second chances.  Proverbs 31.26 is a wonderful speech filter.

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:
for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
— 1 peter 5.5

Time takes time

In my drafts bucket I have a whole bunch of half-begun and mostly unfinished drafts of letters and blog entries I intended to send or post.  Many never get finished.  I either don’t have time or I don’t have enough of the “rest of the story” in my head to complete the work.  Usually, it’s the former, not the latter.

So, time takes time.  I’ve said this to myself, to my children, to other women… I’ve thought this many, many times.  I’ve usually thought this as a self-reminder when a situation seems to be unchanging or a problem seem to linger: give it time.  We all know that things take time — wounds take time to heal, friendships take time to bloom, paint takes time to dry.  But we’re impatient, aren’t we!?!  We want what we want: now.  We weary of waiting.   We need answers.  We must have resolution.  We can’t wait another day… and on and on.

I recall saying many times: time heals all wounds (in my head I add, for personal entertainment: time wounds all heels).  But then I mentally slap myself for retaliatory indulgence and determine not to think that thought again — for I sincerely do not wish to inflict injury on anyone – but can’t resist the play on words.   And though I still believe that time heals all wounds, I think  I’d better clarify that it’s not the passage of time that heals wounds — it’s what goes on in the passage of time that heals wounds.  The Word and work of God heals wounds — and it seems He uses many things to do so.  Faith heals wounds.  A different perspective over time heals wounds.  Repentance (ours or theirs) heals wounds.  Humility heals wounds. Forgiveness (again, ours or theirs) heals wounds.

But it takes time.  Things take time.  Time takes time.

In the fall, we plant garlic.  Preparing the soil takes time.  Marking the rows takes time.  Planting takes time.  All through the winter, the ground looks barren.  Nothing’s happening — or so it seems.  In the spring, the little sprouts appear and by early summer the garlic looks mature enough to harvest.  But it’s not.  Not yet.  It needs a little more time.  Even after it’s harvested, we hang it up to dry… still more time passes.  Time… takes time.

A couple of years ago I pruned, dug up, divided and replanted a very large hydrangea.  It looked pitiful.  Last year it, and the divided plants, looked pitiful, still, with its sparsely leafed, woody canes and no flowers at all.  This year it’s filling out nicely — but still, no flowers.   And it may well be that there’ll not be a single flower on the whole bush again this year.  But it’s nicely shaped and its leaves are strong and full.  Time.  It just needs more time.

Life breaks and falls apart.  Sometimes it’s relationships, sometimes things.  When things in our lives break we learn to pick up the pieces, bond them together and patch the cracks.  In time, we carefully begin to use the vessel again — this time, more patiently, more carefully — knowing from experience that the vessel is precious and the cracks have added much value to its worth.

Sometimes in life we get to experience the humbling reality with keen awareness that the broken thing was repaired not discarded.  The Lord’s work, in time, healing all wounds.

So, in the passage of time — whether in the garden or in my home or in my heart — I’m learning that I must often stand still and let some time pass.  I must stand still and see the salvation of the Lord in that circumstance.  But in that standing still, I’m not just standing still.  I’m waiting.  I’m watching.  I’m trusting.  I’m yielding.  I’m obeying.  And, though it might look like nothing’s happening outwardly — the work that’s being done inwardly is priceless:  I’m leaning on the Lord and He is working in me by His grace,  the gift of patience and hope.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1.3-4

My-o-my, I’m learning these things… and they’ve been so worth the learning!  I’m learning to redeem the time!   Time takes time… and it’s priceless.

 

Independence Day 2011

It’s Independence Day here in the States.  Independence Day… the day we celebrate many things – Freedom, Family, Life, Independence — not being dependent on another country for our country’s governance or control — in this case, independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

All over the valley, though nightfall is many hours away, the booms are sounding and fireworks dot the sky.  The humming of the  Star Spangled Banner seems to be in the breeze.  We have an old flag — each stripe pieced with heavy, cotton thread and each year I hang it from the flagpole on our front porch.  It has forty-eight stars (God bless Alaska and Hawaii and the year of their admission!) and some small holes in it that’ve been mended.   It represents the history of  this nation — and I’m so glad to have it waving in the breeze today!

I guess that’s why I grieve the governmental decisions that seem to disregard the intent and design of the government the Founders were given for this nation.  Further, I would join the many in decrying the systematic disregard of Providence and the squandering of the liberties and freedoms for which innumerable soldiers gave their lives and in an egregious about-face: the bondage to government interference, intrusion and control.  And yet… even in these often discouraging events, truly it is a great blessing to have been born in this country, to experience the abundance of the land, the majestic beauty, the incredible gifts, options, opportunities and the bounty we have. all. around. us.

So, thank You, Lord for this beautiful land… America, God’s grace shed on thee… because of the Lord, the home of the free because of the brave.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov’d
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov’d,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.