Because I have been given much,
I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty Lord,
Each day I live;
I shall divide my gifts from thee
With every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed
By thy good care;
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share;
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
my roof’s safe shelter overhead
That he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed by
thy great love dear Lord;
I’ll share thy love again
According to thy word;
I shall give love to those in need,
I’ll show that love by word and deed;
Thus shall my thanks be thanks in deed.
Music by Phillip Landgrave (1975)
Lyrics by Grace Noll Crowell (1936)
I can barely sing this hymn without it touching me. Especially the second verse. I know what it is like to be homeless I’ve been there. I don’t like it and I have helped those who have also been homeless, regardless of the why they became homeless. Sometimes that just means listening to them when they explain how it all came about. Currently the third verse holds meaning to me. I know what God’s love feels like and I have attempted to share it with others. Sometimes people come into our lives that are like porcupines, it doesn’t matter which way you approach them or deal with them off shoots a quill in our direction. Those that are the hardest to love are the ones that need it the most. Interesting that sometimes that person is ourselves. It is easier to share God’s love when we accept and love who we are. Not in a prideful way. Just accepting that we are human and we need God’s help just as much as anybody else. Once we learn that we can then be grateful for our lives and live in the present time accepting what comes our way and been thankful for it.