A Time To Give Thanks
As the holiday season starts to creep up on us once again it is, considering
all the problems in the world, time to sit back and relax with family and friends
and count the many things we are thankful for. Even in an imperfect world I know
that there must be at least one or two events or occurrences in the past year that
stood out as being a blessing in disguise.
So take some time from your busy schedule and think about the good things and
put the rest on the back burner for a while.
To help celebrate the holiday I have dug up the lyrics to a hymn that I remember
while growing up. The name of the song is 'We Gather Together'.
During the 1600's, Dutch settlers brought with them their Prayer of Thanksgiving
to this 'Brave New World'. They added music from a Netherlands folk hymn and
it soon became a favorite in the colonies. Today it is a traditional
Thanksgiving hymn sung by many the world over. The following is a translation
from Theodore Baker (1851-1934).
We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing
He chastens and hastens his will to make known
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing
Sing praises to his name...He forgets not his own
Beside us, to guide us, our God with us joining
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be
Let thy congregation escape tribulation
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen
Happy Thanksgiving from the crew at Twin-Music.
- Richard Blaine
* Richard Blaine's views and opinions do not necessarily
reflect the views and opinions of the staff at Twin-Music.