I Thank Thee

I thank Thee, God, for colors:

   For the crimson of holly berries, the flaming scarlet of maple leaves, and sumac along the country lands in autumn.

   For the azure blue of the sky, bending over to reflect its hue in little lakes set like gems among the high mountains;

For the blue of the morning mist that wraps the high peaks with its filmy veil of mystery and blends to deepest violet in the low places;

For the silvery blue of great waters that dash and spray against the jutting crags; and the heavenly blue of morning glories that twine about my garden gate.

For the green of the restless sea, the placid lake, and the quiet river; the green of the sheltering arms of trees—pale in early springtime—deep in the midsummer foliage;

For the soft green of rolling plains where cattle browse in contentment; the emerald of early wheat, rippling to the fingers of the wind.

For the gold of sunlight splashing its cheery contrast against the shadowed places of earth; the gleaming gold of stars that stud the curtain of night; the bright gold of sand along the shore; the rich gold in fields of ripened grain, the yellow gold in the chalice of every wayside buttercup.

I thank Thee, too, for the somber shades: gray in clouds and rain; the twilight sky, and all shadows;

For the dark shades of brown in fresh-turned earth; in roots and stones, and the rough bark of friendly trees.

These muted tones complete earth’s kaleidoscope of color, and make its brighter shades seem lovelier still.

With lavish hand Thou has spread beauty across the world, and I know love has planned it all.

I thank Thee, God, for seeing eyes and a responsive heart.

Kathryn Blackburn Peck (1904-1975)
Sunshine Magazine  
(Nov. 1967) p. 2