To the tune of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (“Ode to Joy”)
- Joyful, joyful, we try to be
Happy as we love our kids
We have all this love inside us
That we want to freely give
But sometimes it’s hard to accomplish
All that we must to do things well
We keep trying, yes, go on
Because that is what true love does
- All our work that we complete
Sometimes it’s invisible
When we do what we do well
Then everything looks simple
Just because we don’t get a thank you
Doesn’t mean that we don’t matter
We must know that we have value
With or without words to match
- Giving and forgiving we stay
Because we know that kids are kids
We can’t take things personally
Because we were their age once
It’s up to us to set the example
And not resort to reactivity
We hold our head up and smile
Perspective we keep with things
- Mortals we are therefore we will
Never attain perfect-ness
So when there is something that makes
Our life hard we face it
Giving thanks for the great honor
Of tending to our family
Expecting responsibility
Still with compassion we love
The original text is worth a read:
Text: Henry Van Dyke
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven; Arr. by Edward Hodges
- Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!
- All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.
- Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our father, Christ our brother,
all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.
- Mortals, join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
love divine is reigning o’er us,
blinding all within its span.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward,
in the triumph song of life.