OUR FATHER KNOWS BEST

OUR FATHER KNOWS BEST WHAT'S BEST FOR US,
SO WHY WE SHOULD COMPLAIN,
WE ALWAYS WANT THE SUNSHINE,
BUT HE KNOWS THERE MUST BE RAIN.

WE LIKE THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER,
AND THE MERRIMENT OF CHEER,
BUT OUR HEARTS WOULD LOSE THEIR TENDERNESS,
IF WE NEVER SHED A TEAR.

OUR FATHER TESTS US OFTEN,
WITH SUFFERING AND WITH SORROW,
HE TESTS US; NOT TO PUNISH US,
BUT TO HELP US MEET TOMORROW.

FOR GROWING TREES ARE STRENGTHENED,
WHEN THEY WITHSTAND THE STROM,
AND THE SHARP CUT OF THE CHISEL,
GIVES THE MARBLE GRACE AND FORM.

OUR FATHER NEVER HURTS US NEEDLESSLY,
AND HE NEVER WASTE OUR PAIN,
FOR EVERY LOSS HE SENDS TO US,
IS FOLLOWED BY A RICH GAIN.

AND WHEN WE COUNT THE BLESSINGS,
THAT GOD HAS SO FREELY SENT,
WE WILL FIND NO CAUSE FOR MURMURING,
AND NO TIME TO LAMENT.

FOR OUR FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN,
AND TO HIM ALL THINGS ARE PLAIN,
SO HE NEVER SENDS US PLEASURE,
WHEN THE SOUL'S DEEP NEED IS PAIN.

SO WHENEVER WE ARE TROUBLED,
AND WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG,
IT IS JUST GOD WORKING IN US,
TO MAKE OUR SPIRIT STRONG.