Only a Beam of Sunshine

Fanny Crosby, 1884, in Songs of Redeeming Love No. 2, edited by John Sweney, C. C. McCabe, T. C. O’Kane, & William J. Kirkpatrick (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1887):

Fanny Crosby says, It was a cold, rainy day, and everything had gone wrong with me during the morning. I realized that the fault was mine; but that did not help the matter. About noon the sky began to clear; and a friend, standing near me said, There is only a beam of sunshine, but oh, it is warm and bright; and on on the impulse of the moment I wrote the hymn.

Sankey, p. 334

John R. Sweney (MIDI, NWC, PDF).

Only a beam of sunshine,
But oh, it was warm and bright;
The heart of a weary traveler
Was cheered by its welcome sight.
Only a beam of sunshine;
That fell from the arch above:
And tenderly, softly whispered
A message of peace and love.

Refrain

Only a word for Jesus,
Only a whispered prayer,
Over some grief worn spirit
May rest like a sunbeam fair!

Only a beam of sunshine
That into a dwelling crept;
Where, over a fading rosebud,
A mother her vigil kept.
Only a beam of sunshine
That smiled through her falling tears,
And showed her the bow of promise,
Forgotten perhaps for years.

Refrain

Only a word for Jesus,
Oh, speak it in His dear name,
To perishing souls around you
The message of love proclaim.
Go, like the faithful sunbeam,
Your mission of joy fulfill;
Remember the Savior’s promise,
That He will be with you still.

Refrain