THE KITCHEN PRAYER

The following poem was written 
by a 19 year old English servant 
girl, Klara Munkres, in the year of 1928.

Lord of pots and pans and things,
Since I've not time to be
A saint by doing lovely things
Or watching late with Thee
Or dreaming in the dawn light
Or storming Heaven's gates,
Make me a saint by getting meals
And washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha's hands,
I have a Mary mind
And when I black the boots and shoes,
Thy sandals, Lord, I find.
I think of how they trod the earth,
What time I scrub the floor,
Accept this meditation Lord,
I haven't time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy love,
And light it with Thy peace
Forgive me all my worrying and make
My grumbling cease.
Thou who didst love to give men food,
In room or by the sea
Accept this service that I do,
I do it unto Thee.