p. 764 | The Home Circle by Mrs. W. H. Bailey

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 15, 1887

The Home Circle.

By Mrs. W. H. Bailey

O FATHER, Father up in Heaven, Bend low thy loving ear, And listen to the words I speak, And say, "My child, I hear."

Thou gavest me a solemn trust, A life-work here to do; I sought in weakness and in want To be to it most true.

But earth and hell combined to thwart My work, and I was weak; My poor life-work, oh! fix it, Lord— For help to thee I seek.

Unravel all the bad, I pray; The stitches dropped, pick up; I'm but a little one, you know, And bitter is life's cup.

Yes, fix it up, my poor life-work— Say, have I toiled in vain? I tried to do it well thou know'st, For thee to bear its pain.

But I can see to-day, and know 'Tis poorly done, not well; How thou can'st ever say, "Well done," I'm sure I cannot tell.

But shall it come to naught? be vain? Must I go empty hand? Forbid it, Father up in Heaven— Oh! make my work to stand.

For Jesus' sake thy blessing add; Oh, crown my work with thine! So shall it not be vain and lost, And joy of heart be mine.

—Mrs. W. H. Bailey.