COME HOME by Marianne Farningham

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1883

COME HOME.

By Marianne Farningham

O God, the way is very long, And storms are rough and wild; And who shall tread the ways of earth With garments undefiled? But unto laden weary ones Thou sayest, "Come unto Me;" And, like a tired child seeking rest, So I come home to thee.

The tasks of life are hard to do, And great the stress and strain On those who toil from morn till eve Hindered by fear and pain, But ever, for a little space, Some respite there may be, And with a sigh of glad content Thine own come home to thee.

In these school-days there is such din Of voices all around; The teachers strive together,—"Here" They say "can light be found." And baffled souls grow sore afraid, And only pray to see— But always 'tis a lighted way Through which we come to thee.

Sometimes alas! we keep away And strive to do and bear Without the solace of thy love, The comfort of our prayer; But thy reproaches are so soft, Thy pardon is so free, That only joy is given to us When we come home to thee.

Coming to thee is coming home, And what is Heaven but this! Give to us then whate'er thou wilt, And all our life is bliss; We work, endure, and weep, and pray, And all the shadows flee, Since evermore, where'er we stray, Lord, we come home to thee. —Marianne Farningham.