The blind girl who could see better than me

I love to worship God through music. Whether I'm singing cherished hymns or singing along with new songs on the radio, Christian music fills my heart and soul, inspires me, and brings me joy. Today, we share the story of one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. You may recognize some of her beloved songs: "Rescue the Perishing," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," "Blessed Assurance," "To God Be the Glory," and more.

These timeless hymns were penned by Fanny Crosby, and her story is truly inspirational. Fanny was born in 1820 in New York City. At just six weeks old, a cold led to an eye infection that resulted in blindness.  When a prominent physician later confirmed that Fanny's sight would never be restored, her mother was heartbroken, but Fanny embraced life with remarkable contentment. She wrote her first poem at the tender age of eight.  It reads: “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, nor I won’t!”

Fanny lived a long and fulfilling life, reaching the age of 95. During her lifetime, she wrote and collaborated with others to write over 8,000 hymns.  Often, someone would bring a tune to her, and as they played it, she would pray and by the time the music ended, she would have the perfect words to fit the melody.  At other times she would dictate poems to a friend at a rate of three or four a day, and then others would create the accompanying tunes. Her hymns are filled with joy, promise, comfort, and calls to Christian action.

You might wonder how her hymns could reflect such deep biblical knowledge and strong faith. Early on, Fanny’s mother and grandmother helped her memorize five chapters of the Bible each week. By the time she was 15, she had memorized the gospels and several books from the Old Testament, including much of the Psalms.  Throughout her life, Fanny attended various churches, including Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian congregations, deepening her knowledge and solidifying her devotion to God.

Fanny lived out the faith she wrote about in her music. Known affectionately as Aunty Fanny, she served at city rescue missions and donated much of her earnings from compositions to charities, even though she herself teetered on the edge of poverty.

Today we reflect on Fanny’s life, her music, and the example she sets for us as she embraced her God-given talents and used them for God’s service, despite the challenges she faced.  May we too, embrace the unique gifts that God has given us and use them to tell our own story of God’s love and hope.