HARVEST HYMN OF PRAISE

I have always liked the words of the following hymn, especially verse 3 which springs to mind every time I find work difficult or boring.

To Thee, O LOrd, our hearts we raise

In hymns of adoration,

To Thee bring sacrifice of praise

With shouts of exultation, 

Bright robes of gold the fields adorn,

The hills with joy are ringing,

The valleys stand so thick with corn

That even they are singing.

And now, on this our festal day,

Thy bounteous hand confessing,

Before Thee thankfuly we lay

The first-fruits of Thy blessing.

By Thee the souls of men are fed

With gifts of grace supernal;
Thou who dost give us earthly bread,

Give us the bread eternal.

We bear the burden of the day,

And often toil seems dreary;

But labour ends with sunset ray,

And rest comes for the weary;

May we, the angel-reaping o'er

Stand at the last accepted,

Christ's golden sheaves for evermore

To garners bright elected.

O blessed is that land of God

Where saints abide for ever;

Where golen fields spread far and broad,

Where flows the crystal river.

The strains of all its holy throng

With ours to-day are blending'

Thrice blessed is that harvest song

Which never hath an ending.

(William Chatterton Dix 183-98) Methodist Hymn Book