FIRST IN A SERIES…
While doing some reading on the Internet, I ran across the title of an old hymn I remember singing…All the Way My Savior Leads Me. I stopped for a minute and closed my eyes. Yes, I remember that song. Immediately the phrase came to mind…“for I know what ‘ere befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.” Wow! I didn’t even remember that I remembered those words. But, there they were. I tried to think of the rest of the song. And, I could recall those sweet words…the whole first verse was as clear to me as if I sang it last Sunday. Which sadly, I didn’t. Next I googled the lyrics and as I read them, they were refreshed in my memory as well…all 3 verses….and I could recall all the words to the 3rd verse, as well, once I got a little push!
If you do not know of this old hymn, read these words below as a poem…they are beautiful…
(there is NO reason for the extra space between the first line and the rest of the lines…stupid computer won’t let me fix it, either)
All the Way My Savior Leads Me
Frances J. Crosby
———————————
All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
(Copyright: Public Domain…..Scripture: Revelation 7:17…..Robert Lowry, pub.1875Copyright: Public Domain…..Key: G…..Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7)
Revelation 7:17 NKJV “…for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
OK, so the words are definitely not written in today’s English standard way of talking, but aren’t they powerful? I can attest to the validity of every sentence. I know this for sure, because I have lived these words without even knowing it.
God has always led me. I do not doubt His mercy, I have seen it over and over as He has guided my life. And, I have lived enough of the hard things in life to proclaim to you with full assurance…He does all things well. Every trial I have faced in life, He has given me the grace I needed to go through it. When my steps would get weary and I would be close to falling, suddenly…He swooped in with strength and joy. Never failed! It is amazing how you can be in the throes of a crisis…and feel His peace and comfort and actually ‘feel joy’, as He promised. Now I have not seen what lies ahead after this life. But, this I know for sure. He is there. And, He promises me that there is beauty and peace and joy and goodness and rest. I believe every word of it! I will testify as long as there is breath that He has led me. He has guided me. He has kept his promises. He is faithful! (With sincere apologies to Frances Crosby for paraphrasing the soaring words of her hymn to fit my feeble mind).
(The picture above of the page of music is from the hymnal I used when I was taking piano lessons. It was the same one we used at church. Still there, on the first few measures, are the notations she made to help me learn the correct rhythm. Thanks, Aunt Eunice! It makes me smile to see a sweet reminder of the wonderful lady she was!)
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I'll be singing this to sleep tonight. Isn't it lovely how the "old" hymns that we don't sing as often any more are so much more memorable than the new ones? Perhaps I just need a little rhyme in all my poetry, and a little formally-stated speech. I wouldn't mind bringing back "Thee" and "Thou," and I've always loved the word "art," as well as the endings "eth" and "est."
Your paraphrase was perfect, and could be a testimony to your entire life, with your grace and strength and courage, and your acknowledgement of whence it comes.
Hope you're all well and warm,
rachel
One of my mother's favorites – she loved all of Frances Crosby's hymns. We sang songs in the car on trips (I am not even sure our car had a radio). It amazes me how I can remember the words when we sing an old hymn at church or I hear one somewhere. I think it has something to do with the combination of music and the words, because I am not sure I could recite the words from memory but they do come back to me when singing. Thanks for the memories.
My family members every time say that I am wasting my time here
at web, but I know I am getting familiarity
alll the time by reading such pleasnt posts.
What a glorious testimony, Tonja!
I love this old song. I also enjoy those markings your teacher made to help you with the rhythm! I use a system of chanting to help my piano students. Each chanted syllable has a specific duration, if that makes any sense. The first line of this song would be chanted: ti'-ka TAM ti ti ti ta ta, ti ti TAM ti ti ti ta-a.