It is not only prayer that gives God glory, but work. Smiting on an anvil, sawing a beam, whitewashing a wall, driving horses, sweeping, scouring, everything gives God some glory if being in his grace you do it as your duty. To go to communion worthily gives God great glory, but to take food in thankfulness and temperance gives him glory too. To lift up hands in prayer gives God gory, but a man with a dungfork in his hand, a woman with a slop pail gives him glory too. His is so great that all things give him glory if you mean they should. So then, my brethren, live.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins,
The Principle or Foundation
Comments (5)
Carol, thanks for your sweet comment. Yes, it is indeed a blessing to see my children’s children’s children. And having spent quite a lot of time with this family during their children’s growing up years (after I retired) it is a special blessing to see their children.
As for my blogging, the thing is I really want to post more, but when push comes to shove it is late by the time I can really settle in here, and darn it all, I’m tired and wanna go to bed by that time! Frustrating!
Another comment, this time re the Gerard Manley Hopkins quote you included. That really speaks to me. I am not familiar with that book. Is it all as good as the paragraph you quoted? OR, is that quote in the Kathleen Norris book of that title? I have that book and have read it but don’t specifically remember the Hopkins quote.
A friend sent that quote to my two years ago, and I just stumbled over it this morning. I think we mixed our attributions. The quote *is* Gerard [and until today I always thought his first name was Gerald] Manley Hopkins. It comes from a work called “The Principle or Foundation”.
I did a quick eye swipe of Quotidian Mysteries and didn’t see the Hopkins quote in it.
As one who struggles with fat, the phrase “to take food in thankfulness and temperance gives him glory too” takes on greater weight. Sweeping is also one of my nemeses and I’m glad it was specifically mentioned.
Work is good.
Dana in GA
Plant that apple tree!
Sweep the dust bunnies out of the school…
Brenda