A few nights ago, I lay unable to sleep.
Searching for a way to turn off my mind, I tried to think of a song.
While I love music and have a fairly good memory, I am not like some who can remember songs and lyrics with ease.
In fact, when I tried to remember a song well enough to sing it to myself, my mind remained blank!
I let my mind drift back to my childhood and immediately "Blessed Assurance" flashed across my memory - a hymn I have not sung or heard in years.
The words and melody drifted through my mind and I was so surprised that I remembered the lyrics. The beauty of the song in my heart carried me into a restful sleep.
Before I share the beautiful words with you ... let me tell you about the author in case you have forgotten or perhaps never heard of her.
Her name was Fanny Crosby -- She was born in America in 1820 and died in 1915.
She is known for her poetic lyrics - she wrote over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime. The words flowed from the bubbling over love in her heart for her Savior.
But Fanny's life was not 'perfect'. Some time after she was born, her parents were forced to face a parent's heartbreak. Their beloved baby girl was born blind!
She must have had very wise parents because she did not spend her life feeling sorry for herself and what she missed.
A preacher once sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you."
She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?"
"Why?" asked the surprised clergyman.
"Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"
***Are your troubles really as big as you think they are? Have you given them to the one who offered to carry all our burdens ? Have you considered that what you view as your greatest obstacle could actually be a gift in disguise?
Read the lyrics of 'Blessed Assurance' and let the depth and meaning and beauty of the words sink deep into your heart. May they encourage and bless you today !!
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
*********
7 comments:
"Blessed Assurance" is one of my favorite hymns...unlike others where I often confuse or forget the words, the words of this hymn stay with me. When my children were babies, I realized I didn't know any lullabies to calm and reassure them, so this was my song of choice!
In a way, we're all like Miss Crosby in that we are all blind, some more so than others, because when we see the face of our Savior, it will be as though we're actually seeing for the first time!
I'll be singing that in my heart the rest of the day. LOVE the old, old hymns and feel we've thrown away such a treasure by not singing them in church any more. How Great Thou Art is usually my song in the night! Thanks!
I love this hymn and I love that you added part of Fannie's story with it. When we sang in a Christian rock band in the 70's the directors wife sang this as a solo at every concert....
I find it interesting as well, that I can remember words to older songs so much better. Partly it's the years of repetition, partly it's having memorized a song as a child or younger person ... those words stick with you.
Fanny Crosby saw what really was important.
Blessed assurance..'echoes of mercy, whispers of love'..this is a special hymn!
Such a rousting hymn when sung with many! I didn't know that Miss Crosby was blind. Her statement of seeing her Savior's face is spoken like a woman who is very much in love!
I keep an old hymnal handy, and am often surprised at how profound the second or third verse is...the ones that I rarely heard sung or remember. They tend to be a bit gritty...maybe that is why they are rarely sung.
Hi Julie, How are you? I haven't been past in a long while but was once again uplifted by your postings. I have forgotten how blogspot works - can anyone get access or is it restricted. I have some Christian lady friends who I think would really enjoy your postings.
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