Our Father, will You be pleased today to fill us with delight because of Your love. Are we heavy of heart—let Your sweet love lighten the burden; for what after all can there be to trouble the man whom God loves? Shall we not find even in Your rod a sweetness, as Jonathan did, when he dipped his rod in the honey? Have You not said, "as many as I love I rebuke and chasten," shall we not therefore take Your rebukes and chastenings, and even rejoice in them, because therein the love of God is manifested toward us. Are Your dear children poor, or are they sick in body, or are they losing those they love, or is there yet a newly dug grave over which they could shed floods of tears? Oh, sweet love of God, comfort them. Cover all the rocks, O mighty tide of everlasting love, until not a rock is seen; and on that glassy sea may our spirits float above the rocks, which else had wrecked our lives. We do pray You give us comfort, but also give us strength as well as consolation.