Jennifro

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child.

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of joyful praise.

For the beauty of the earth

for the Glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies:

Lord of all to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flower

Sun and moon and stars of light

Lord of all to thee we raise,

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given

Graces human and divine

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven

Lord of all to Thee we raise,

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Like many families, we take turns during dinner expressing something we have been grateful for this past year. I am ever thankful for the blessing of wonderful family and friends who make my life truly joyful and the gifts of health, happiness and freedom, which I cherish.

But this year I chose to highlight my love for music of all kinds--hence the lyrics running through my posts. Music brings feeling, inspiration, energy and clarity to my days and makes me feel life and it's experiences more deeply. Music defines my mood and the person I am at the time. It takes me to places I've never been but wish to go, and sweeps me swiftly back to sweet days gone by....it is a pleasure I never want to do without.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

-Berthold Auerbach