This Is My Father's World
This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
The first time I heard this hymn, I couldn't believe how perfectly the author had voiced the emotions in my heart when I looked upon God's creation. My eyes filled with tears and my hand reached out while singing, wishing I could hold God's hand as I praised Him. The precious few times I have heard it sung, my response has been the same. I think, in fact, it is my personal anthem.
When I see nature, I see God's love. "In rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought". The wonders of his creation never cease to amaze me. As a young mother I would constantly point out to my children the intricacies of God's design. As a teacher I have written entire units over a single plant or animal and the perfection of it's design. All my children are talented artists in various mediums, which blesses my heart because I see that they have learned the beauty in details, a perfect reflection of God's intent.
When I have friends or family walk with me around my humble little flower gardens, a few have responded something like, "You showed me this last week". But oh how much they have missed! Don't they see there are more colors now then last week? Don't they see how this leaf is ruby red with the sun specifically shining down on it from the south right now? Don't they see how the lily is "declaring the maker's praise"?
"In the rustling grass, I hear him pass; he speaks to me everywhere." Sometimes a gentle breeze blows a leaf or a textured grass just enough for it to catch my eye, sometimes a flash of a brightly colored bird or butterfly captures my attention and all I can do is say, "Praise you Lord"! "He speaks to me everywhere".
At times when my heart is afraid, I feel God sends me a beautiful reminder of how much I'm loved, perhaps through the soaring large wings of a majestic bald eagle or an osprey over our home. "Oh let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet". When the rain pours and the wind howls, God shows me His strength and magnificence and I am humbled.
"This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King ; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad"!
