It was while she was teaching that she suffered a severe spinal injury. One of the students is said to have hit her with a piece of slate. The injury was so severe her doctor put her in a body cast, and she spent many long months confined to her bed.
It was during this time that she studied English literature and began writing hymns. She eventually recovered but was a semi-invalid all of her life. It never dampened her bright spirit. Rather it deepened her faith and her walk with the Lord.
Eliza died on April 24, 1920.
Among the many hymns she wrote is this one:
When We All Get To Heaven
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessèd
He’ll prepare for us a place.
Refrain:
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Refrain
Let us then be true and faithful,Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Refrain
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
Refrain
Such a glorious hymn of hope and encouragement, written during a time of pain and suffering. It was a joy to learn just a little bit about this dear lady.
Blessings,
Linda
10 comments:
Thanks for sharing a hymn that is new to me ... and I like your new banner.
This is such a wonderful song!! I've loved it forever and it is so encouraging in these troubled times; there is a better home awaitin'.
My mother loved this hymn and is probably
the one who taught it to me for I can
remember singing it as a child and loving
the lyrics. Thanks for reminding me of it
today.
Blessings,
Sandy
It continues to amaze how I can immediately remember the tune of an old hymn and sit at my computer and sing it. Always makes me smile and at times giggle at all those years of sitting in the congregation on a Sun. eve and wanting to be home watching Disney, never realizing all the good stuff was creating a home in my heart.
Her story is sobering--that she could respond to the situation in such a positive way is humbling.
This song is another favortie of mine---thanks for bringing its history to light.
As a middle school teacher, I found this story especially interesting. I hope that I could have such a positive attitude as Eliza did if one of my students injured me.
My daughter and I were singing this just this last weekend. One of my all time favorites!
I love this song, Linda. One of my favorites from my childhood. God bless you!
And we think the inner city schools are rough now... ;)
"Not a shadow, not a sigh." I like that part especially. And I love it when you open your hymnal, Linda.
I love that song (o:
Wonder about the name...The Girls Normal School???
It was probably the worst thing to be in a body cast for so long.
We all love this hymn and in my culture it is sung joyously at funerals. Thanks for sharing her story. I loved reading it. How precious were the lives of so many of these hymn writers. Many endured much and still continue to bless us many years later.
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