A day seemed long when it came to earth,
And many the hours it bore,
And the daily tasks and waiting joys
Lay heaped on the dusty floor.
There seemed no sunshine of God's good will,
No breeze of His promise kind,
No generous breath of sacrifice
On the still and sullen wind.
Oh, for a broader task in life,
A fuller recompense,
A larger scope the truth to show
Of God's omnipotence!
A quicker bloom from the stifled seed
Buried in earth so long;
Some one to help, some thing to heal,
Some voice to break into song!
Then an angel fled o'er the morning calm,
Pausing ere noontide came
To lessen a load and dry a tear
Where grief had stamped its name.
It paused again where the children played
And silenced an angry tone,
Held back a hand that framed a blow
And stood by a widow lone.
It carried a lamp where the way was dark,
Anointed the wounded feet,
And silenced a cry of loneliness
In a crowded city street.
Then back it flew to the meager room,
And lo! the tasks were gone,
And love had uncovered the waiting joy
Of humble work well done.
