"When We All Get To Heaven":

This gentle-looking woman is Eliza Edmunds Hewitt. She was born on June 28, 1851 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she lived her entire life. After graduating as valedictorian of the Girl's Normal School, she became a public school teacher.

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,
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