The poem
It's not for laws I've broken That bitter tears I've wept, But solemn vows I've spoken And promises unkept; It's not for sins committed My heart is full of rue, but gentle acts omitted, Kind deeds I did not do.
I have outlived the blindness, The selfishness of youth; The canker of unkindness, The cruelty of truth; The searing hurt of rudeness . . . By mercies great and small, I've come to reckon goodness The greatest gift of all.
Let us be helpful ever to those who are in need, And each new day endeavour To do some gentle deed; For faults beyond our grieving, What kindliness atone; On earth by love achieving A Heaven of our own.
I have looked for this peopm for years and it is a as beautiful as I remember, I read it in my grade 7 class as a school project and was in love with it right away. After that I couldnt remember which book it was in and couldn't find it again till today it's been 16 years and I was still amazed with it.