Thank God for Little Things

"Thank you, God, for little things that often come our way,
The things we take for granted but don't mention when we pray.
The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtful, kindly deed,
A hand reached out to help us in the time of sudden need--
Oh, makes us more aware, dear God, of little daily graces
That come to us with 'sweet surprise' from never-dreamed-of places."
~ Helen Steiner Rice

Narsinh Mehta, Vaishnav jan to...

वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये जे पीड पराई जाणे रे,
पर दु:खे उपकार करे तोये मन अभिमान न आणे रे,
सकल लोकमां सहुने वंदे निंदा न करे केनी रे,
वाच काछ मन निश्चल राखे धन धन जननी तेनी रे,
समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी, परस्त्री जेने मात रे,
जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले, परधन नव झाले हाथ रे,
मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने, दृढ़ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे,
रामनाम सुताली लागी, सकल तीरथ तेना तनमां रे,
वणलॊभी ने कपटरहित जे, काम क्रोध निवार्या रे,
भणे नरसैयॊ तेनु दरसन करतां, कुण एकोतेर तार्या रे ॥
English translation:
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
One who is a vaishnav
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
Knows the pain of others
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery
Man abhimaan na aaNe re
Does not let pride enter his mind
Vaishnav…
SakaL lok maan sahune vande
A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world
Nindaa na kare keni re
Does not say bad things about anyone
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure
Dhan-dhan janani teni re
O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed
Vaishnav…
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice
Par-stree jene maat re
Considers some one else’s wife/daughter as his mother
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re
Does not even touch someone else’s property
Vaishnav…
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly
pleasures
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi
Who has been edicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram
SakaL tirath tena tan maan re
For whom all the religious sites are in the mind
Vaishnav…
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe
Who has no greed and deciet
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re
Who has renounced lust of all types and anger
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta
The poet Narsi will like to see such a person
KuL ekoter taarya re
By who’s virtue, the entire family gets salvation

Anonymous, Jaako raakhe saaiyan...

Jaako raakhe saaiyan maar sake na koye,
baal na baanka kar sake chahe jag bairee hoye.

Gulzar, Hum ko man kee...

hum ko man kee shakti denaa, man wijay kare
dusaron kee jay se pahale, khud ko jay kare

bhedabhaaw apane dil se saaf kar sake
doston se bhool ho to maaf kar sake
jhoothh se bache rahe, sach kaa dam bhare
dusaron kee jay se pahale, khud ko jay kare

mushkile pade to hum pe itanaa karam kar
saath de to dharam kaa, chale to dharam kar
khud pe hausalaa rahe, badee se naa dare
dusaron kee jay se pahale, khud ko jay kare

Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes, O Lord my God...

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Rajendra Krishan, Tumhi ho mata...

Tumhi ho Mata, Pita Tumhi ho
Tumhi ho bandhu, sakha Tumhi ho

Tumhi ho sathi, Tumhi sahare
Koyee na apna siva Tumhare
Tumhi ho naiya Tumhi khavaiya
Tumhi ho bandhu sakha Tumhi ho

Jo khil sake na woh phool ham hain
Tumhare charano ki dhool ham hain
Daya ki drishti sada hi rakhna
Tumhi ho bandhu sakha Tumhi ho

Tumhi ho Mata, Pita Tumhi ho
Tumhi ho bandhu, sakha Tumhi ho.

Jo­seph M. Scriv­en, What a Friend...

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.