Doda

As you know, I have lost practically every single thing of sentimental value from my childhood - including the blue, vinyl-covered autograph book I received about my ninth or tenth birthday, and so carefully had all my best-loved people sign. Tragic! Anyway, my most vivid memory connected with this book concerns Doda. When I asked him to sign it, I could see this was something he took very seriously, that he wanted to give me something that would be meaningful through my entire life. I was so young, I recognized that, but certainly did not understand it. It rather embarrassed me. He thought for a few minutes, then went and got his fountain pen...and in a beautiful, flowing script he began to write... "Sew love and taste its fruitage pure" - and for years, this is all I have been able to remember. Some time ago, I googled this phrase but came up dry. Well! I tried again yesterday and found this poem! After almost fifty years, I have found what my grandfather bequeathed me.

How To Live
He liveth long who liveth well!
All other life is short and vain.
He liveth longest, who can tell
Of living most for heavenly gain.

He liveth long who liveth well!
All else is being thrown away.
He liveth longest who can tell
Of true things truly done each day.

Waste not thy being; back to Him
Who freely gave it, freely give;
Else is that being but a dream:
'Tis but to BE and not to LIVE.

Be what thou seemest! Live thy creed!
Hold up to earth the torch divine,
Be what thou prayest to be made,
Let the great Master's steps be thine.

Fill up each hour with what will last;
Buy up the moments as they go;
The life above, when this is past,
Is the ripe fruit of life below.

Sow truth, if thou the truth wouldst reap;
Sow peace, and reap its harvest bright;
Erect and sound thy conscience keep,
From hollow words and deeds refrain.

Sow love and taste its fruitage pure;
Sow peace and reap its harvest bright;
Sow sunbeams in the rock and moor,
And reap a harvest home of light.


And who wrote this? Horatius Bonar - a well-known theologian, minister, and poet of the Free Church of Scotland in the 1800's...Still published by The Banner of Truth. Aren't God's ways amazing? Thanks, Doda! Thanks, God!