Father, I know that all my life
Is por­tioned out for me,
And the chang­es that are sure to come
I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a pre­sent mind
Intent on pleas­ing Thee.

I ask Thee for a thought­ful love,
Through con­stant watch­ing wise,
To meet the glad with joy­ful smiles,
And to wipe the weep­ing eyes;
And a heart at lei­sure from itself,
To soothe and sym­pa­thize.

I would not have the rest­less will
That hur­ries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do
Or sec­ret thing to know;
I would be treat­ed as a child,
And guid­ed where I go.

Wherever in the world I am,
In what­so­e’er es­tate,
I have a fel­low­ship with hearts
To keep and cul­ti­vate;
And a work of low­ly love to do
For the Lord on whom I wait.

So I ask Thee for dai­ly strength,
To none that ask de­nied,
And a mind to blend with out­ward life
While keep­ing at Thy side;
Content to fill a lit­tle space,
If Thou be glo­ri­fied.

And if some things I do not ask
In my cup of bless­ing be,
I would have my spir­it filled the more
With grate­ful love to Thee,
More care­ful, not to serve Thee much,
But to please Thee per­fect­ly.

There are bri­ers be­set­ting ev­ery path
That call for pa­tient care;
There is a cross in ev­ery lot,
And an ear­nest need for pray­er;
But a low­ly heart that leans on Thee
Is hap­py any­where.

In a ser­vice which Thy will app­oints
There are no bonds for me;
For my in­most heart is taught the truth
That makes Thy child­ren free.
And a life of self re­nounc­ing love
Is a life of li­ber­ty.