For the beauty of the earth

My Mother was very pleased that I visited John's grave on All Souls' Day, and she asked me to take a photo of the flowers that I placed in 'her vase'. Well here they are!



However, let me also post a photo that I took last month of my Mother on her 91st birthday. I note she is proudly displaying a photo of Ludo - my Sister's dog, not a photo of me - on her sideboard. I wonder why?!



One hymn comes to mind. Let us listen as the words are sung in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen as she attends worship in St Paul's Cathedral, London. Let us pray for all those involved in the protest there at this present time.

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Refrain

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.

Refrain

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Refrain

For Thy Church, that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love.

Refrain

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.

Refrain