There were only a few people in the café, which I had never been to before. I suddenly hard male voices in unison singing “Blessed Assurance,” a hymn that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
“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.”
My eyes filled with tears as I thought about the meaning of this song. I have heard it so many times but the words really spoke to me that morning.
No matter what trials and tribuations we are going through, we have that “Blessed Assurance” that Jesus is with us.
The hymn was written in 1873 by Fanny Crosby, America’s most prolific hymn writer, who wrote 8,000 gospel songs and hymns during her lifetime.
While the song was written 144 years ago, the words still have an impact today and give peace and strength to so many people.
What makes Crosby’s story even more amazing is that she was blind. She didn’t let this hold her back and was known for the thousands of hymns that she wrote.
A friend came over to play some music for Crosby. The lady had written the music but didn’t have works. She asked Crosby what the music made her feel and she said “Blessed Assurance.” She then wrote the other words for the song that has been a blessing for so many people over the years.
I never saw the men who sang “Blessed Assurance” that early morning in North Carolina. I thought it was probably a men’s group having a prayer meeting in the back of the restaurant. I didn’t look in the back and never saw the men but they gave me a blessing on that early morning.
I don’t know why they were gathering but I’m glad they sang this beautiful song before their meeting. They had no idea that it touched my heart as I quietly sang the words along with them.
It warmed my heart that these men got up so early to gather together and pray and sing. It’s amazing how someone can be a blessing to you and never know it. These men were certainly a blessing to me.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at Angie@mainstreetnews.com. 
