O Father, for this little life
O Father, for this little life
entrusted from above,
ere yet
he
face earth's sin and strife,
we supplicate thy love.
As Hannah to the Temple gate
her dearest treasure bore,
so, Lord, to thee we consecrate
this child for evermore.
Thy faithful soldier, may
he
fight
with falsehood, sin and shame,
and losing all to win the right
confess thy holy Name.
Thy faithful servant, may
he
learn
to love and labor still,
and with a flaming spirit burn
to know and do thy will.
O Savior, all
he
is is thine,
and all
he
yet may be:
O shelter
him
with love divine,
and draw
him
near to thee.
For thou, O Lord, art all our life,
in thee all struggles end:
through all the sorrow and the strife
our Maker and our Friend.
Words: Gilbert White, 1919
Music: St. Hugh
Meter: CM
Website compiled by
Steve Benner
, 2000-2003.
