Our Father

From childhood we were taught: "Our Father..." We knew the Lord as the Good Shepherd kind. We kept this truth for some later hour, To apply it as a salve unto the mind.

Faith grew slowly, with much strain. And as we grew and years went by, Heaven seemed distant and in vain, The world around looked lovelier to the eye.

Our parents held a steadfast creed, Yet it was not passed down in our blood. We learned from watching how they'd lead— Yet this alone could not quite fill the flood.

Only when we came to know The poison taste of sin's deep well, And after, felt the heart's deep woe, And saw the sinner in ourselves to dwell—

Only then did we implore: "Our Father, do not cast us down, Save us, let us not fall more, We trust You'll grant forgiveness' crown, And with Your love receive us, Good Shepherd, our own!"