Living the Way We Pray

I knelt to pray when day was done 
And prayed: “O Lord, bless everyone 
Lift from each heart the pain, 
And let the sick be well again.” 

And then I woke one day, 
And carelessly went on my way, 
The whole day long I did not try 
To wipe a tear from any eye. 

I did not try to share the load 
Of any brother on the road; 
I did not even go to see 
The sick man just next door to me 

Yet once again when day was done 
I prayed: “O Lord, bless everyone.” 
But as I prayed, to my ear 
There came a voice that whispered clear: 

“Pause, hypocrite, before you pray: 
Whom have you tried to bless today? 
God’s sweetest blessings always go 
By hands that serve him here below.” 

And then I hid my face and cried: 
“Forgive me God for I have lied, 
Let me but live another day, 
And I will live the way I pray.”

                                                                                  Author Unknown

Source: “UNTO THE FURTHERANCE of THE GOSPEL” 
By THE THIRD YEAR CLASS 1970-71 Freed-Hardeman College.

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