Birthday Wishes

What shall I wish you, dear one,    As you enter another year? A life all free from sorrow,    With never a pain or fear? A path all strewn with roses    With never a prickly thorn With all of joy to gladden    And naught to make you mourn? No! then you would lose the blessing    That comes with sorrow's hour, You then would lose the comfort    Of Christ's own mighty power; Oft in the deepest trial    The richest blessing comes And pain but leads us upward    Toward our heavenly home. So I will leave your future    In His all-loving hand. With Him will leave the mysteries    We cannot understand, Content that He will lead you    The way that's always right, The roughest path but brings you    To His own glory light. I know that He will give you    His own deep joy and rest, I know that He will send you    All that is wise and best; So I will only wish you    Just His own perfect will, His own sweet love and blessing    Your inmost soul to fill; Yet, "more and more" of glory    Until the goal is won, And in His Royal Presence    Eternity's begun.