Scripture Verse

From birth I was cast on You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God. Psalm 22:10

Introduction

portrait
Charles H. Gabriel
1856–1932

Words & Mu­sic: Charles H. Ga­bri­el, Ro­de­hea­ver’s Sun­day School Songs (Chicago, Illinois: Ro­de­hea­ver Com­pa­ny, 1917), num­ber 228 (🔊 pdf nwc). Al­so see The In­fi­del and His Daugh­ter.

Anecdote

Ethan All­en’s daugh­ter lay dy­ing. Her mo­ther, a beau­ti­ful Chris­tian char­ac­ter, had passed on be­fore her. The daugh­ter, call­ing her fa­ther to her bed­side, said: Fa­ther, I am dy­ing. Mo­ther taught me to love the Lord Je­sus, but you say there is no God.

I love you and my saint­ed mother; I can­not have the faith of both; now, which shall I choose?

The not­ed in­fi­del took his dy­ing child in his arms and said: Stick to your mo­ther’s God! Her way is the saf­est way.

Rodeheaver’s Sun­day School Songs, 1917

Lyrics

The ways of the world may tempt you
With their glitter and glint of gold,
And its promises may allure you
As you watch its mirage unfold;
False prophets, the thieves of Satan,
Like vampires entice their prey;
But stick to your mother’s God:
Her way is the safest way.

The palace of sin and pleasure
May appeal to your heart’s desire,
For its music is strangely thrilling,
Like the strains of a golden lyre.
But, stop! Ere you cross its threshold,
Look back to your childhood’s day.
And stick to your mother’s God:
Her way is the safest way.

Her breast was your first warm pillow,
When she taught you to lisp His name;
Don’t dishonor that blessèd memory
With the teaching of modern shame.
Keep on in the dear old pathway!
Let others do as they may,
But stick to your mother’s God:
Her way is the safest way.