A Favorite Hymn – “Lord Speak to Me”

This was one of Glenn’s favorites:

1. Lord Speak to Me that I may speak     in living echos of Thy tone;

As Thou has sought, so let me seek     Thine erring children, lost and lone.

2. O strengthen me, that while I stand    Firm on the Rock and strong in Thee,

I may stretch out a loving hand    To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

3. O teach me Lord, that I may teach    The precious things Thou dost impart;

And wing my words that they may reach   The hidden depths of many a heart.

4. O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,   Until my very heart o’erflow:

In kindling tho’t and glowing word,  Thy love to tell, Thy praise to share.

These words were written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1872.  I like to imagine the historical background at the time of the writing of a hymn.  I read a short biography of Miss Havergal’s life in the book “101 More Hymn Stories” by Kenneth W. Osbeck.  She lived in England, at the same time Fanny Crosby was writing hymns in America.  Although the two never met, each was an ardent admirer of the other.

I know the thoughts in this hymn are an expression of Glenn’s heart.  Once when he was asked how he wanted to be remembered he said,  “By a pair of worn out shoes and a Bible.”  And today I am especially remembering little Peter Glenn, who is with his Grandpa in heaven.  One time when the children and I were having a devotional, 6-year-old Peter sighed and said, “I wish we could get some people here who don’t know anything about God so we could tell them about him….