O Gentle Presence

O Gentle Presence (Mother’s Evening Prayer)
Words by Mary Baker Eddy
Music by Mel Atkey

O gentle presence,
Peace and joy and power;
O Life divine,
That owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.
Love is our refuge;
Only with mine eye
Can I behold
The snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.
O make me glad for
Every scalding tear,
For hope deferred,
Ingratitude, disdain!
Wait,
And love more for every hate,
And fear no ill,
Since God is good, and loss is gain.
Beneath the shadow
Of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret
Of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding,
With the angels sing:
“Lo, I am with you alway,” — watch and pray.
No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav’nly rest.

Music © 2012 Friendlysong Music
Words used courtesy of The Mary Baker Eddy Collection