Nov 24, 2023

Jane Crewdson

I know only the barest outline of Jane Crewdson’s life (1808-1863). She was a British poet married to a cotton manufacturer named Thomas. She was confined to bed during a lengthy, undisclosed illness, during which time she wrote poems. She composed “Aunt Jane’s Verses for Children” as well as poems for adults. Jane’s thanksgiving poem, “I Thank Thee” expresses gratitude for everything, both the good and the bad. Consider all the ground she covers in her five-verse poem:

1. I thank Thee for every drop in the cup both bitter and the sweet.
2. I praise Thee for goodness bestowed and grace denied.
3. I praise Thee for the future crown and the present cross.
4. I thank Thee for wings of love and storm clouds.
5. I bless Thee for glad increase and waning joy.

Her poem’s final words provide the clincher–“and for this strange, settled peace which nothing can destroy.” It reminds me of the way Habakkuk concludes his prophecy, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab. 3.17-19). Habakkuk doesn’t thank God for things that go wrong in his life. God is his source of gratitude, “I will rejoice in God my Savior.” In good times and bad, God is faithful. Jane leads us in a thanksgiving prayer:

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop–
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside,
for all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss,
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.
I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest,
And for the storm clouds which drove
Me, trembling to Thy breast.

I bless thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy,
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.

Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.