Tender Watch

TENDER WATCH

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WHEN THE WAY SEEMS LONG AND THE DARK IS DARK,
AND WE CAN'T HEAR THE SONG OF THE THRUSH OF THE LARK,
AND OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY WITH SICKNESS AND CARE,
AND WE ARE LOST IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR...
THAT IS THE TIME WHEN FAITH ALONE
CAN LEAD US OUT OF "THE DARK UNKNOWN,"
FOR FAITH TO BELIEVE WHEN "THE WAY IS ROUGH"
AND FAITH TO "HANG ON" WHEN "THE GOING IS TOUGH"
WILL NEVER FAIL TO PULL US THROUGH
AND BRING US STRENGTH AND COMFORT, TOO...
FOR IT'S NOT OURS TO QUESTION "WHY,"
FOR ONLY "OUR FATHER" WHO DWELLS ON HIGH
KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS AND REASONS, TOO,
AND HIS MASTER PLAN IS PERFECT AND TRUE...
SO DO NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND,
JUST TAKE THE SAVIOUR'S LOVING HAND
AND LET HIM LEAD YOU WHERE HE WILL
THROUGH "PASTURES GREEN" AND "WATERS STILL"...
AND THOUGH THE WAY AHEAD SEEMS STEEP,
BE NOT AFRAID FOR HE WILL KEEP
TENDER WATCH THROUGH NIGHT AND DAY
AND HE WILL HEAR EACH PRAYER YOU PRAY...
SO PLACE YOURSELF IN HIS LOVING CARE
AND HE WILL GLADLY HELP YOU BEAR
WHATEVER LIES AHEAD OF YOU
FOR GOD WILL SEE YOU SAFELY THROUGH!









BUT EVEN THE DARKNESS IS NOT DARK TO YOU.
THE NIGHT IS AS LIGHT AS THE DAY;
DARKNESS AND LIGHT ARE THE SAME TO YOU.



PSALM 139:12
NCV



WHEN DARKNESS OVERTAKES THE GODLY,
LIGHT WILL COME BURSTING IN.
THEY ARE GENEROUS, COMPASSIONATE, AND RIGHTEOUS.



PSALM 112:4
NLT



I WILL DECLARE THAT YOUR LOVE STANDS FIRM FOREVER,
THAT YOU ESTABLISHED YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN HEAVEN ITSELF.



PSALM 89:2
NIV



IT WAS YOU WHO OPENED UP SPRINGS AND STREAMS;
YOU DRIED UP THE EVER FLOWING RIVERS.
THE DAY IS YOURS, AND YOURS ALSO THE NIGHT;
YOU ESTABLISHED THE SUN AND MOON.



PSALM 74:15-16
NIV



I, THE LORD, AM YOUR GOD,
WHO BROUGHT YOU UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT;
OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE AND I WILL FILL IT.



PSALM 81:10
NAS