A Mother Lined a Basket

A mother lined a basket

Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1997)
Tune: WEST MAIN
ONE LICENSE: 00382
Published in 4 hymnals

Representative Text

A mother lined a basket
to keep her baby dry,
then rocked him on a river,
lest he awake and cry.
She let a princess name him
her son that he might live.
God's people had a leader.
She had such hope to give.

A mother sewed a jacket,
lined in the softest wool,
then dressed her little boy-child,
her cup of blessing full.
She brought him to the temple
where he would serve and live.
God's people had a prophet.
She had such faith to give.

A mother laid her baby
in manger lined with straw;
then, in the shepherds' story,
his call from God foresaw.
She nurtured him and taught him
the way that he must live.
God's people had a savior.
She had such love to give.

Like Jochebed and Hannah,
and Mary too, we know
the hardest part of loving
is learning to let go,
so when we send our children
out in the world to live,
grant us such hope and faith, God,
and love enough to give.


Source: Time Now to Gather #1

Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn

Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: A mother lined a basket
Title: A Mother Lined a Basket
Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1997)
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Source: Time Now to Gather
Place of Origin: United States
Language: English
Notes: Hymn appears in The Faith We Sing (Abingdon, 2000) Sing the Faith (Geneva Press, 2003) and Community of Christ Sings (2013). An anthem setting is available from Choristers Guild, "Love Enough to Give," CGA 808.
Copyright: © 1998 Abingdon Press (admin. The Copyright Company)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Community of Christ Sings #239

Sing the Faith #2189

The Faith We Sing #2189

Text

Time Now to Gather #1

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