Ponderin's from Thanksgiving Past [POETRY]

​All children gathered large and small ~ all children gathered in the hall ~ all children heard the lofty call...

​"Come sit down and take your seats,
With all hands folded nice and neat"...
They lay atop our desks.

Looking up at Mrs. Lee, standing straight and tall,
"We're going to sing an old, old hymn
Penned so long ago, 
The place we call the Netherlands, 
Holland, as y'all should know."

Up and down desk rows she passed,
Handing us papers,
Words to this old, glorious hymn~
WE GATHER TOGETHER

Penned 1626 by Adrianus Valerius, 
Valerius gifted us words
our hearts unto the heavens bestow
Unto our Sovereign King.

We Gather Together by Adrianus Valerius

​We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.

Beside us to to guide us, our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
so  from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,
and pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation endure thro' tribulation:
Thy name be ever prais'd, O Lord, make us free!