Just Eighty Three
By Albert Murphy

Is it a dream or can it be
That now today I'm eighty-three.
And words of cheer come by the score
Wishing for me "many more".

My days seem few and not much done
And now my race is nearly run,
I have not done near all the good
That through these years I surely should

But now that I'm so near the end
And have so little time to spend,
I should not spend it now in grief
For that would sure bring no relief.

I praise Him for the cleansing blood
That puts my sins beneath its flood
And now through all eternity
They never will be charged to me.

Whether things look dark or bright
I'm sure for me all will be right
This leaves me free to do my best
And all the time still be at rest.

He loves to guide my feeble bark
Both in the light and in the dark
He knows what is the best for me
And sees the dangers I can't see.

So I don't need to look ahead
For things that I should fear or dread
He lets me sit down by his side
And take His word to be my guide.

His spirit makes me love His truth
Which I rejected in my youth
I was afraid to pay the cost
But oh! I see now what I lost.

If I had let Him save my life
To save from sin and useless strife,
I now can very plainly see
He had useful life for me.

But even now I surely wish
He'd do as with the loaves and fish
And bless what's left to do much good
As when He fed the multitude.