Angelic Singing

 

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain’d,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

‘Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
‘Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we’ll all live together and learn to say,
(refrain)

‘Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of “me”,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.
(refrain)

 As I was waking up this morning after a troubled night, a woman's voice was singing the first two lines of this old Shaker hymn in my head.  Finishing therapy has been good and extra sad after all these years of horror and pain.  I like the "simple" and "free" and I really like the "to come down where we ought to be".  The refrain is about humility, so they all go together.  Such a gift, the singing and the hymn.