I remember when the newness of the world became routine. It occurred when I saw the Grand Canyon some years back. It was beautiful, but the beauty numbed me after a few minutes as I moved from overlook to overlook. From that, I learned to slow down and take mental pictures of the new and wonderful things I saw in my military travels worldwide. But alas, with time, those mental pictures blurred.
But I do miss when the excitement was new through the eyes of a child.
Here is a Bible Trundle from my FaceBook page centered on a hymn written for children. I hope you enjoy a look at the world through the eyes of your youth.
#HymnTrundle Aug 5, 2024
Celebrating God’s Creation: “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
300 words, 90 second read.
Today’s hymn is neither simple nor complex, but it does remind us of a time when we saw the world through once-youthful eyes. May we see God’s Creations today as new, bright, and beautiful. It may be a fallen world today, but it is still His creation. And the Kingdom is in our midst. We just have to see it.
I found this hymn in my morning piano hymns and looked it up. I’m glad I did. I was then reminded of a line from “The Eyes of a Child” by Aurora. I did not remember the tune or the singer, but these words stuck with me: “I would rather see this world through the eyes of a child.”
Celebrating God’s Creation: “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
By Cecil Frances Alexander
“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.”
Backstory: Written in 1848 by Cecil Frances Alexander, this hymn emphasizes the beauty of God’s creation. Each verse praises different aspects of nature, reminding us of the divine hand behind it all. Alexander wrote this hymn to help children understand the Apostles’ Creed, specifically the phrase “Maker of heaven and earth.”
Old Testament Verse:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
New Testament Verse:
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20 (ESV)
C.S. Lewis observed, “We do not want to merely see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” It is a reminder to appreciate and connect deeply with God’s creation, seeing it as a reflection of His glory.
Reflection:
“All Things Bright and Beautiful” directs our attention to the splendor of the world around us, encouraging us to see God’s hand in every detail. Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:20 remind us that creation is a testament to God’s glory and power.
As we witness the beauty of nature, from the vast skies to the smallest creatures, we are invited to worship the Creator and recognize His magnificent handiwork in all things.
“13 For You formed my inward parts;
You [a]covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for [b]I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV)