A Hymn for Sunburn

Our last "everyday hymns" post was a hymn for freezing weather and today we're coming full-circle with a hymn for days so full of sunshine, you get burned!

My inspiration for this post was experiencing quite the painful reaction to sunburn from just a short while at the beach during a recent anniversary trip with my husband.

"Is there a hymn for that?" I asked myself. Why, of course! There's always a hymn for that.

The hymn "Sun of My Soul" by John Keble is all about Jesus and how He is the Sun who gives our souls light and warmth and never, ever burns us when we get too close or stay too long with Him. 

I know. This post is a little cheesy. But I assure you this hymn is not. 

Fun Fact: This hymn has been listed in many compilations as one of the top ten hymns written in the English language. It is inspired by Malachi 4:2 —"The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings."

Sun of My Soul

by John Keble

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear,
it is not night if Thou be near;
O, may no earthborn cloud arise,
to hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep
my weary eyelids gently steep,
be my last thought-- how sweet to rest
forever on my Savior's breast!

Abide with me from morn till eve,
for without Thee I cannot live;
abide with me when night is nigh,
for without Thee I dare not die.

Be near to bless me when I wake
ere through the world our way I take;
abide with me till in Thy love
I lose myself in heav'n above.