Graduation Song

Happy Monday and Happy Valentine's Day!

I graduated from high school in May of 1972 from Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas. Yes, that makes me 56 (almost 57) years old. For some reason I was thinking about that day recently. How many of you remember who spoke at your high school graduation? I do. It was my father. Thirty-six years later I had the privilege of delivering the baccalaureate address for my son's graduating class. But I digress.
At my graduation several of the senior boys were asked to lead the audience in a hymn. I was given the task to lead one of those songs and I still remember what song it was. I pulled out the words the other day and I thought how interesting. It was a song of youth asking for guidance in our lives as we get older. Now looking back, I see the wisdom in those words as I approach the later stage of my life. Here is the song:

Take my life, O Father mold it in obedience to Thy will;
And as rip'ning years unfold it, keep it true and child-like still.

Father, keep it pure and lowly, strong and brave, yet free from strife,
Turning from the paths unholy of a van or sinful life.

Ever let Thy might surround it; strengthen it wth pow'r divine,
Till Thy cords of love have bound it, Father, wholly unto Thine.

Ageless words that still speak to me today. I hardly understood them these 40 years ago, but now they ring truer than they did then. I sing these words in my heart today and I hear the calling to be child-like in heart, holy, and wise enough to follow the Divine guidance of the only Holy One.

Dear God,
Please let me live by the words of this beautiful hymn. And my I ever fill the loving cords of Your love in my life. In His name, Amen.

I hope you have a great day. JW