I Grieved My Lord From Day to Day - Lyrics

1. I grieved my Lord from day to day,
I scorned His love so full and free,
And though I wandered far away,
My mother’s pray'rs have followed me.

Refrain:
I’m coming home, I’m coming home,
To live my wasted life anew,
For mother’s pray'rs have followed me,
Have followed me the whole world thro'.

2. O’er desert wild, o’er mountain high,
A wanderer I chose to be,
A wretched soul condemned to die,
Still mother’s pray'rs have followed me. 

3. He turned my darkness into light,
This blessed Christ of Calvary,
I’ll praise His Name both day and night,
That mother’s pray'rs have followed me.

Title: I Grieved My Lord From Day to Day
Author: Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851–1920)
Tune Composer: William James Kirkpatrick (1838–1921)

Hymn Story:

"I Grieved My Lord From Day to Day" was written by Eliza E. Hewitt, a beloved American hymn writer known for her devotional and emotional lyrics. Hewitt’s own life was marked by physical suffering—she endured a spinal injury that confined her for much of her life—yet she wrote many hymns full of deep spiritual longing, gratitude, and joy.

This particular hymn speaks from the heart of someone looking back with sorrow over a life of resisting the love and grace of Christ. It is a personal confession of grief for having wounded the Savior through indifference and sin. The hymn traces a journey from rebellion to remorse to redemption, rejoicing in the overwhelming love of Jesus that remains steadfast despite the believer's failings.

The tune, composed by William J. Kirkpatrick (a frequent collaborator with Hewitt), fits perfectly with the emotional pull of the lyrics—gentle, reflective, and tender, leading into the joy of forgiveness and acceptance.

Themes:

• Repentance: Acknowledging sin and turning back to Christ.

• Unchanging Love: Christ’s faithful love despite human failure.

• Forgiveness: The assurance that no matter how far one has wandered, Christ welcomes the repentant soul.

• Spiritual Renewal: A prayer for guidance and deeper love after returning to God.

Devotional Thought:

This hymn reminds us that no distance is too great for God's mercy to reach us. Though we grieve Him by our sins, His heart remains open to us. The emotional honesty of the hymn calls believers to humility and trust, rejoicing in the Savior who never lets go. Like the father waiting for the prodigal son, Christ eagerly welcomes the one who returns in repentance.