Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Charles FrancisRichardson

1077 Prayer

IF, when I kneel to pray,

With eager lips I say:

“Lord, give me all the things that I desire,—

Health, wealth, fame, friends, brave heart, religious fire,

The power to sway my fellow-men at will,

And strength for mighty works to banish ill,”—

In such a prayer as this

The blessing I must miss.

Or if I only dare

To raise this fainting prayer:

“Thou seest, Lord, that I am poor and weak,

And cannot tell what things I ought to seek;

I therefore do not ask at all, but still

I trust thy bounty all my wants to fill,”—

My lips shall thus grow dumb,

The blessing shall not come.

But if I lowly fall,

And thus in faith I call:

“Through Christ, O Lord, I pray thee give to me

Not what I would, but what seems best to thee

Of life, of health, of service, and of strength,

Until to thy full joy I come at length,”—

My prayer shall then avail,

The blessing shall not fail.