Today in 1965 – Eleanor Farjeon Died
A new hymnal was in preparation in 1931. The editors wanted to make use of an old Gaelic melody, but could find no suitable words to fit. They turned to Eleanor Farjeon, (February 13, 1881- June 5, 1965) asking her to write a poem of thankfulness for the new day. The daughter of an English novelist, Farjeon became a highly acclaimed literary figure herself–a journalist, a playwright, a poet, and a novelist. Her children’s books won many awards, and she even wrote the lyrics for an opera.
The author pondered the words of Genesis 1:5, which describes the first day of creation: “God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Did you ever think of how exciting it would have been to be there for that? And, even now, did you ever go outside and relish the shear joy of the dawning of a beautiful new day? Eleanor Farjeon may have done so, and she put the experience into words.
Both of the stanzas quoted below end with a recognition that the Lord (“the Word,” cf. Jn. 1:1) not only created the morning to begin with, but He sustains the orderly cycles of nature by His almighty power. The Bible says, “He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [they endure, or are held together]” (Col. 1:17). And He is “upholding [supporting, sustaining] all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3). The hymn says in part:
The author pondered the words of Genesis 1:5, which describes the first day of creation: “God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Did you ever think of how exciting it would have been to be there for that? And, even now, did you ever go outside and relish the shear joy of the dawning of a beautiful new day? Eleanor Farjeon may have done so, and she put the experience into words.
Both of the stanzas quoted below end with a recognition that the Lord (“the Word,” cf. Jn. 1:1) not only created the morning to begin with, but He sustains the orderly cycles of nature by His almighty power. The Bible says, “He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [they endure, or are held together]” (Col. 1:17). And He is “upholding [supporting, sustaining] all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3). The hymn says in part:
Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
