thanks for all Thou dost provide

Father, do not forget me.

When I'm incredibly grateful and words fail, this song often comes to mind:

"Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!"

The words were written by August L. Storm, a native of Sweden. The song was carried to the United States by Swedish immigrants, one of whom was Carl Backstrom. He translated the lyrics to English, and the song became a frequent choice in the Swedish Mission Covenant churches.

My own great-grandparents were Swedish immigrants, and this is one of the songs that they held dear. I count it a treasure to sing the same words and to worship the same unchanging God who daily supplies all our needs, through my joy and through my tears.