FOR THE CHILDREN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 43, 6 March 1937, Page 15

FOR THE CHILDREN

in many cburcbes during tbis montb, Harvest Thanksgiving services will be held. Would you care to bear bow it all came about? Here is tbe story:— ■ THE HABvbST BA^EET. Tbe Jewisb people many years ago uSed to bring' a basket tif harvest gifts and pht them into tbe bandS Of tbe Friest in the Temple and tbe man wbo brought it recited tbe etory of God 's pfovidence over bis race. It began Witb tbe famine that drove Jacob down intb Egypt; it eadfed witb tbe possession df "a land flowijig witb mil£~ and bwiey." Here in tbe basket were its fruits. Gdd bimself bad put tbem tbere* for it told tbe miracle of tbeif daiiy bread. Kneeling down by bis basket, tbe Jew worsbipped tbe Lbrd bis God. His beart Was filled Witb gfatitude and wObder. Wby Should God lavish feucb care updn bito? Wby sbohid He giVe bibl all tbingS flehly td ehjoy? Worsblp was tbe smallest return be cOuld make. At bafveSt titne cofn and fruit all speak to iiS of Gdd. Tbey reveal His power, His resdtitces| His gdddhdsS, His uhfailing lovd. fWhen* tbe basket Was brought and tbe wdrship offered tbe feast began. "Thoa sbait rejoice in all tbe good wbicb the Lord tby God hath giveii uhto tbee. ' ' All sbared in it, for God meant it foi alb It brought iiew strengtb for lifd's work, It built up wasted energies, and gave life new pUrpdse. Our mercies are sbared in commoh. On tbat natlonal prosperity ,dej pexidSi God wants 110 man to be huhgry. We are all to belp Him to fill tbe basket ancT all to sbare tbe joy ahd strengtb tbat are in it, that tbere may be no complaining in our streets. Tbere is to be a full basket; a loving worsbip; a joyful sbaring of God's .benefits. Tbeb wd sball joy before Him according to tbe joy of harvest, But if tbese people many years ago were thankful to God, bow much more so should we be, for since tben He bas given us Jesus. And now I WOuld like tbis poem read in every home, sball we say, at ica time on Sunday,

A THANKSGIVING OPPER1NG. Lord, we wbo set the furrow doep, And sow tbe seeds of industry, Eor tbe xicb guerdon that we teap Give tbanks to Tbee! Lord, we wbo make tbe anvils ring, Wbo rive and weld laBoriously, For all tbe wage our labours bring Give tbanks to Tbeel Lord, we Who watch tbe spindles ply, The ebuttles flying dizzily, For every boon our efforta buy Give tbanks to Tbeel Lord, we wbo build with busy hand Of wood or stone unceasingly, For wbatso 'er our arts command Give tbanks to Tbeel Lord, we who delve in under-earth Far from thy, sunligbt fair and free, For whatso'er we win of worth Give tbanks to Tbeel Lord, we wbo hoist the strainihg sail, And plow tbe green wastes. of tbe sea, For wbat our stormy tasks avail Give tbanks to Tbeel Lord, we tbe toilers of tbe brain, Who cluteb at dreams tbat cling or flee, t For wbatsoever beigbts we gaiD Give tbanks to Theel Lord, we tby children, small and greatBeneatb Tny care, wbere'er if "be, Tbe while Tby grace,we suppllcato Give thanks to Tbeel *