Gospel music legend Dottie Rambo's talent was truly God-given. She began writing lyrics and melodies when she was still a small girl. By age 10 she had taught herself to play an older brother's guitar. She accepted Christ at age 12. While her mother encouraged her to grow as a Christian and writer, her father discouraged her at every opportunity. Although she wanted to respect him, history has shown she was resolute in God's calling upon her life.
Sadly, her older brother, Eddy, who had been her best friend growing up, chose the opposite path. He drifted into a life of drinking, lying, cheating, and crime. Folks figured he would eventually learn his lesson and straighten up. But he didn't and ended up in prison. Dottie prayed for him and witnessed to him when she visited. But he refused to take God seriously. He was proud of Dottie and bragged about her. But he wanted nothing to do with the message of her songs.
Some time after his release, Dottie found out Eddy had cancer. For weeks she visited him in the hospital and watched his condition worsen and his attitude about his fate become more resolved. He said he had done nothing to deserve heaven and it was too late for him. In 1968 one of her greatest songs came from Dottie's pain and heartache for Eddy as she penned . . .
Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise
For it was grace that brought my liberty
I do not know just why he came to love me so
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
Refrain
I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross where Jesus died for me
How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
- Dottie Rambo, 1968
Copyright © 1968 John T. Benson Publishing Company
Hymn commentary courtesy J. D. Sherrow
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