THERE IS JOY IN MY SOUL
♫I will not be weary, tho’ trials may come,
And troubles before me I see,
But count them as nothing compared with the love
Of Jesus, my Savior, to me.
I’ll sing of His love, of His wonderful love,
Tho’ billows like mountains may roll;
I fear not the tempest, I dread not the storm,
For Jesus gives JOY TO MY SOUL.
Francis Jane Crosby wrote more than 9,000 hymns, some of which are among the most popular in every Christian denomination. She wrote so many that she was forced to use pen names lest the hymnals be filled with her name above all others. And, for most, the truly remarkable thing about her was that she had done so IN SPITE OF HER BLINDNESS. The family doctor was away, and another man—PRETENDING to be a certified doctor—treated her at two months of age, by prescribing hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes. Her illness eventually relented, but THE TREATMENT LEFT HER BLIND. Her love of poetry began early—her first verse, written at AGE 8, echoed her lifelong refusal to feel sorry for herself:
Oh, what a happy soul I am,
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!
“…Nehemiah, said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the word of God. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.” (Neh. 8:9-10) So, let us count our many blessings from the Lord today!!!
-Bill Stockham