Day by Day

One by one (sometimes by two)

my leaves change 

and 

so do you

not all at once 

as often prayed

but day 

by day 

by day 

by day

by God my God and God alone

who sits upon His heavenly throne

one by one my leaves will fall

until I’ve lost them one and all

I’ll stand naked in the wind

and catch the snow when it begins

look! already you can see

my leaves preparing to leave me

it’s August yet the signs are there

the change of life is in the air

the nights no longer hold the heat

seasons are set on looped-repeat

give no thought dear have no care

enjoy my foliage while it’s there

just like I”m changing, 

so are you

by God my God makes you anew

my leaves, your sins He takes away

day by 

day by 

day by 

day

like me you’ll stand there in the wind

stripped bare admit it! You have sinned!

you’ll bow your limbs against the cold

onto your knee you’ll bend and fold

like me you’ll yield your will to His

there is no other way than this

until you’re more like Him than not

’til nakedness is all you’ve got

then he’ll clothe you as He does

with grace and faith and hope and love

then the fruits will start to bud

from underneath the dirt and crud

not all at once but one by one

that’s how our Saviour’s work is done.

- Vera Patterson