The Beautiful Valley of Rest
By L. D. Santee
I LOOK from the uplands of being,
And a joy to my spirit is given.
I grow tenderly sober in seeing
The light and the glory of heaven.
Beyond the tall mountains of gladness
Is the home of the pure and the blest;
And there, with no echo of sadness,
Lies the beautiful valley of rest. A glory gleams soft o’er these mountains,
Reflected from shadowless skies;
While mingled with music of fountains,
The songs of the ransomed arise.
There are isles in an ocean of splendor,
There are joys that no tongue can express,
And there, where the radiance is tender,
Lies the beautiful valley of rest. That home is awaiting in heaven
For all who for heaven are prepared.
To them will the white robes be given,
For them are the mansions prepared.
They will bask in the sunlight of gladness,
With a joy that no tongue can express.
They will rest with no echo of sadness,
In the beautiful valley of rest. The sins of the earth leave no traces
On the beautiful forms that we love.
There’s a rapture of joy on their faces
As they rise to the mansions above.
We shall drink of life’s soft-flowing fountain,
And dwell with the holy and blest;
And near to the evergreen mountains
Lies the beautiful valley of rest. No wickedness there, no deceiving,
Through all of eternity’s years;
No hopes that have failed, and no grieving,
No cheeks that are furrowed with tears.
But sweeter than prophet’s glad vision,
Or the glory that shines in the west,
Between the tall summits Elysian,
Lies the beautiful valley of rest. There are lives that are faithful to duty,
Who have followed their Saviour below.
They will stand with the King in His beauty,
Where the roses of Paradise blow,
Their eyes with a love-light are shining,
Whose mission on earth was to bless.
Where the roses of heaven are twining,
Lies the beautiful valley of rest.