All good gifts around us...

Continuing the theme of thankfulness this week, a special hymn from the Divine Office,

the Liturgy of the Hours for Wednesday, Week II, Morning Prayer:

We plough the fields and scatter

The good seed on the land,

But it is fed and watered

By God’s almighty hand;

He sends the snow in winter,

The warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine,

And soft refreshing rain:

 

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heav’n above,

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord for all his love.

He only is the maker

Of all things near and far;

He paints the wayside flower,

He lights the ev’ning star.

The winds and waves obey him,

By him the birds are fed:

Much more to us his children,

He gives our daily bread.

We thank you then, dear Father,

For all things bright and good:

The seedtime and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food.

And all that we can offer

Your boundless love imparts;

The gifts to you most pleasing

Are humble, thankful hearts.

[Text: Wir Pflüegen and wir streuen, 

M. Claudius, 1740-1815 

Translator: Jane N. Campbell]

As some of you know, some of these words became lyrics for the song, "All Good Things," featured in the musical Godspell:

Here's one of the hundreds of versions you can find on youtube