The following is one of my favourite hymns of all time. We just sang it as a congregation last Sunday. O How this tune and melody has been playing over and over in my mind this and past weeks.
"Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou are calling,
Do not pass me by."
~Frances Jane Crosby (Fanny Crosby)
Fanny was a prolific song-writer, inspirational poet of her time. She was the hymnist of her lifetime. She had written thousands of poems and hymns, that some publishers were hesitant about having so many hymns attributed to one person, and she had used other names in order to associate the hymns to. Some hymns of which I discovered have become my personal favourites:
-Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross
-Be Silent
-Thy Word is a Lamp to My Feet Lord
-Blessed Assurance
-To God Be The Glory
and some others which I cannot recall right now. Many musicians and song composers had chosen her lyrics to be used in songs and in turn have become part of the collection of hymns sung in churches still today. What struck me deeply is that she was blinded by the age of six due to some maltreatment of the eye. Throughout her life, the following has been her motto,
"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't.''
I learnt that she had chosen to be satisfied in God alone and had not allowed her affliction to distract her from what God wants her to be. She enjoyed reflecting on Scripture and had even committed to memory the first 4 books of the Old Testament and the 4 Gospels before the age of 10. That is amazing! To think of memorizing entire chapters or even books to me personally is very challenging, almost impossible! Even more incredible it is with the fact that she was blind! What commitment in her walk with God! Truly admirable!
In the midst of the uncertainty and turmoil in the world, are we truly satisfied? Are we at rest? Are we scouring for places of refuge and peace? Let the life of Fanny Crosby be a mirror of reflection on how God's strength and supply could empower one's life to magnify His name.
1 comment:
Appreciated your note on Fanny Crosby--and "Pass Me Not" is a favourite of mine as well. You make reference to Fanny's memory, and it was incredible. She composed her songs in her head, and then had someone write them down. And it wasn't unusual for her to have a dozen stored up in her mind that she was able to dictate one after the other.
If you are interested in learning more about hymns and hymn writers, I invite you to check out my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns, where I note things that happened in hymn history each day of the year. God bless.
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