Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in England but came to the United States at age 12, eventually settling in Wisconsin with her parents. Helen had a reputation of being a brilliant singer. She studied private voice for four years in Germany. In the early 1900’s she regularly traveled giving concerts in many churches.
She married a European who was quite wealthy. She taught voice at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago before teaching in Los Angeles. During her lifetime of 98 years she composed over 500 hymns and poems and even authored a children’s book.
It was during the middle years of her life that things changed dramatically and she was dealt a couple of big blows to her faith. Helen became blind and her husband abandoned her. Life became a struggle for her and would have challenged anyone’s faith.
In 1918 a missionary friend gave her a pamphlet that was titled “Focused.” Inside it contained some very impacting words for her – “So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full in His face and you will find that things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.” These words had a great impact on her.
Helen recalled later, “I stood still and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but nonetheless dictated by the Holy Spirit.”
That song was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The chorus is “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Helen suffered with blindness and a husband leaving her. Through it all she turned her eyes to Jesus knowing that only He would not fail her or leave her in any situation or circumstance.
The Christmas season does not come without its challenges. For some this is a lonely and depressing time of year. If you find yourself to be in one of these scenarios why not turn to the one for whom we celebrate the Christmas season. As Helen Lemmel found out, even in blindness, the light of day is beautiful and blessed if you will only “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.
My prayer for you is that God will make Himself known to you in a special way this Christmas season. Turn Your eyes upon Jesus and see that He will make the things of this world grow strangely dim.
God bless and Merry Christmas.