Scripture Verse

Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward. Matthew 10:42

Introduction

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856–1922)

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in Fair­er Than Day (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: George C. Hugg, 1902), num­ber 16.

Music: An­tho­ny J. Sho­wal­ter (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Oat­man,

portrait
Anthony J. Showalter (1858–1924)

Lyrics

Would you be a sun­beam
Filled with Hea­ven’s light,
Shedding forth its beau­ty
Over scenes of night?
In this world of sor­row,
Sickness, sin and woe,
Try to be a bless­ing
Everywhere you go.

Refrain

Be a bless­ing on life’s wea­ry mile,
Be a bless­ing with a word or smile;
Be a bless­ing, ev­ery­where the same;
Try to be a bless­ing
In the Mas­ter’s name.

Where the tears are fall­ing
And the hearts are sad,
Take some Gos­pel mes­sage
That will make them glad;
Strive to give them com­fort
By some lov­ing deed,
Try to be a bless­ing
In the time of need.

Refrain

Just a cup of wa­ter
For the Mas­ter’s sake
May sweet chords of mu­sic
In some bo­som wake;
Seek to help some pil­grim
T’ward the gold­en land,
Try to be a bless­ing,
Both with voice and hand.

Refrain

If you fol­low Je­sus
All along life’s way,
You will help to bright­en
Every hour and day:
Would you shine in glo­ry
Brighter than the sun?
Try to be a bless­ing
Till your work is done.

Refrain