I SAID : Sweet Master, hear me pray;
For love of Thee the boon I ask;
Give me to do for Thee each day
Some simple, lowly, blessed task.
And listening long with hope elate
I only heard Him whisper, Wait.

The days went by but nothing brought
Beyond the wonted round of care,
And I was vexed with anxious thought,
And found the waiting hard to bear;
But when I sighed, In vain I pray,
I heard Him gently answer, Nay!

So praying still and waiting on,
And pondering what that waiting meant,
This knowledge sweet at last I won —
And oh the depth of my content! —
My blessed task for every day
Is humbly, gladly to obey .

And though I daily, hourly fail
To bring my task to Him complete,
And must with constant tears bewail
My failures at my Master's feet,
No other service would I ask
Than this my blessed, blessed task.