Simple Gifts
Tis the gift to be simple
‘Tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight
Chorus:
When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend, we shan’t be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight
‘Til by turning, turning, we come round right
‘Tis a gift to be simple
‘Tis a gift to be true
‘Tis a gift to labor ’til the day is through
And when we find ourselves in the place so fine
‘Twill be in the cool of the birch and the pine
(chorus)
‘Tis a gift to be joyful
‘Tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift, ’tis a gift, ’tis a simple gift to be
And when you find yourself in the pure delight
The gift to be simple has led you alright
(chorus)
In the place just right
In the place just right
‘Til by turning, turning, we come round right
(chorus)
Text: Joseph Brackett: Music: American Shaker melody: Public Domain
Devotion
My parents spoke two languages—mother spoke Puccini (opera) and father spoke Pigskin (football). They had five boys and one girl to help them translate one to another. Mom would return from a hard day as an occupational therapist, then sit down at the piano for thirty minutes to sing arias, ballads, and hymns before preparing dinner and then greeting an evening of piano and voice students in our home. Among those songs, “Simple Gifts,” written by Elder Joseph Brackett in 1848 and spread widely by Aaron Copeland, rang true. This Shaker Hymn, sung to shed the stress of hospital work, has continued to bless my life when stress mounts and I begin to bend like Mom at the end of a day. How does one arrive in the valley of love and delight? By turning and returning to God, empowered by the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Turning and returning to confession and forgiveness leads us into the valley of love and delight.
Prayer
Righteous, Holy One of God, we need you more than we know. Yet you lavish us with delight in the gifts of the Holy Spirit of Jesus as we turn turn to our created souls, as we turn turn toward our neighbors, as we turn turn toward the wonder of the world in which you have set us. Turn turn and renew us as you renew in us your simple gifts. Amen.