A WOMAN'S TRUST

This week's choice is most likely one that you've never heard.  We originally thought that it dated back to the depression but it must be much older than that.  In fact, the words were found in an 1890's Good Housekeeping Magazine,  It appears that it was first published by the Baltimore Methodists, but we don't know when.  The personal significance is that it used to be sung by my grandparents.  My grandfather actually entered the ministry as a teenager and together my grandparents had very little financial resources and few material goods.  They really knew what it was like to trust the Lord for their daily bread.  My cousin had been searching for the words for quite awhile and finally found them through the internet.  We don't have any music written for it, but my Aunt Thelma can play it for you from memory.  Besides the personal significance, I think it might be very appropriate for the age in which we are living.  The economy and the recession have left many folks in increasingly desparate situations and many of us may get to the place where we also really pray for our daily bread.  So it is good to be reminded that God's people have always been provided for and they always will be.  While you can't sing along, at least read the following words and be encouraged.

(1)    "Good wife, what are you singing for?  You know we've lost the hay,

And what we'll do with horse and hay is more than I can say;

While like as not, with rain and storm,

we'll lose both corn and wheat!"

She looked up with her pleasant face, and answered low and sweet:

"There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(2)    He turned around with sudden gloom; she said, " Love, be at rest;

You cut the grass, worked soon and late, you did your very best.

That was your work ; you've naught at all to do with wind or rain,

And do not doubt but you will reap rich fields of golden grain;

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(3)    "That's like a woman's reasoning—we must because we must."

She softly said: "Reason not, I only work and trust.

The harvest may redeem the day—keep heart what'er betide,

When one door shuts I've seen another open wide.

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(4)    He kissed the calm and trustful face; gone was his restless pain,

She heard him with a cheerful step go whistling down the lane;

And went about her household tasks full of a glad content,

Singing to time her busy hands as to and fro she went:

"There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(5)    Days come and go—'twas Christmas tide, and the great fire burned clear.

The farmer said "Dear wife, it's been a good and happy year;

The fruit was gain, the surplus corn has bought the hay, you know."

She lifted then a smiling face and said : " I told you so!

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be! "

—Baltimore Methodist.
1890s's Good Housekeeping