A Christian Home

Here is a hymn for today from Jean Sibelius, who was born on this day (Dec 8) in 1865 in Hämeenlinna, Finland (d. September 20 1957, Järvenpää).

A Christian Home
Barbara B. Hart, 1916
Jean Sibelius, 1865-1957

O give us homes built firm upon the Savior, Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide;
Where ev’ry child is taught His love and favor And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho his footsteps waver His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us home with godly fathers, mothers, Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers, Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each fins joy in serving others, And love still shines, tho days be dark and grim.

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master, The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where pray’r comes first in peace or in disaster, And praise is natural speech to ev’ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that’s vaster, And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever! We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

For more information on Sibelius and his work in English, see the Jean Sibelius website, and the Sibelius Society of Finland.