Mother Evening Prayer (Part One)

O gentle presence
Peace and joy and power
O life divine that owns
Each waiting hour

Thou love that guards
Nestling's faltering flight
Keep thou my child on upward
Wing tonight
Keep thou my child on upward
Wing tonight

Love is the 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|
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 lost is gain
No ill, since God is good
And lost is gain

...

Beneath the shadow
Of his mighty wing
And that sweet secret of
The narrow way

Seeking and finding
With the angels sing
"Lo, I am with you always."
Watch and pray
"Lo, I am with you always."
Watch and pray

No snare, no fowler
Pestilence or pain
No night drops down upon
The troubled breast

When Heaven's aftersmile
Earth's teardrops gain
Mother finds her home
And heavenly rest
Mother finds her home
And heavenly rest