At first I prayed for light

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At first I prayed for light

Author: Edna Dow Cheney
Tune: WOOLWICH (Kettle)
Published in 14 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 At first I prayed for light:
Could I but see the way,
How gladly, swiftly would I walk
To everlasting day!

2 And next I prayed for strength:
That I might tread the road
With firm, unfaltering feet, and win
The heaven’s serene abode.

3 And then I asked for faith:
Could I but trust my God,
I’d live in-folded in His peace,
Though foes were all abroad.

4 But now I pray for love:
Deep love to God and man;
A living love that will not fail,
However dark His plan.

5 And light and strength and faith
Are opening everywhere!
God waited patiently until
I prayed the larger prayer.

Source: Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #488

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Author: Edna Dow Cheney

Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney (June 27, 1824 – November 19, 1904) was a writer, reformer, and philanthropist, born on Beacon Hill, Boston to Sargent Smith Littledale and Ednah Parker (Dow). She was educated in private schools in Boston. She was secretary of the School of Design for Women from 1851 till 1854. She married portrait artist Seth Wells Cheney on May 19, 1853. His ill health limited his volume of work and after a winter trip abroad (1854-1855) he died in 1856. They had one child, Margaret Swan Cheney (September 8, 1855 – September 22, 1882) Edna's daughter, Margaret Swan Cheney died of tuberculosis while a student in the 1882 class at MIT and a reception room of the Women’s Chemistry Laboratory was named in her memory. A… Go to person page >

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