ANOTHER YEAR IS DAWNING

 

Another year is dawning,

Dear master, let it be,

In working, or in waiting,

Another year with thee.

Another year of mercies,

Of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness

In the shining of thy face.

Another year of progress,

Another year of praise,

Another year of proving

Thy presence all the days.

Another year of service,

Of witness of thy love,

Another year of training

For holier work above.

Another year is dawning,

Dear master, let it be

On earth, or else in heaven,

Another year for thee.

Francis Ridley Havergal

  

* * * * * * * * * *

THE OXEN

 

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.

"Now they are all on their knees,"

An elder said as we sat in a flock

By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where

They dwelt in their strawy pen,

Nor did it occur to one of us there

To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave

In these years! Yet, I feel,

If someone said on Christmas Eve,

"Come; see the oxen kneel,

In the lonely barton by yonder coomb

Our childhood used to know,"

I should go with him in the gloom,

Hoping it might be so.

Thomas Hardy

from Tess of the D’Urbervilles

  

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Blessed are the laughter-makers

For they bring heaven to earth

 
  Blessed are those who greet us with a smile.

Blessed are those whose laughter lives in our memories.

Blessed are those whose chuckles and laughing eyes

tug the corners of our mouths.

Blessed are those who see the funny side of things,

for they redeem mistakes and failure.

Blessed are those who make us smile,

for they reveal the face of love.

Blessed are those who make us laugh,

for they reveal the joy of heaven.

Rev Frank Topping

a retired Methodist Minister

and a well known author and broadcaster