HYMNS OF HOPE – ‘Fanny’ J. Crosby

What would one do, if a newly born girl were to become blind from the age of one and half months, due to eye infection and medical ignorance, in the early 1800’s, and go on to live up to 94 years, with no medical remedy in sight? Any other person would have lost hope, and given up. But certainly not, Fanny J. Crosby. She is known more as one of the most prolific hymn writers in Church history, than being a blind Christian lady. By the time she died in 1915, she had written somewhere about 9,000 hymns.

What could easily have been, a wasted life, lived in isolation as a recluse, Fanny J. Crosby turned her painful disabilities, into a bouquet of sweet smelling flowers, and a life lived in praise of her God. Her life, in her own words, “Oh what a happy soul am I although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I shall be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t. To weep and sigh, because I’m blind? I cannot and I won’t.” What a perspective!!!

Fanny J. Crosby calls her blindness, a ‘blessing’ in disguise, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” HalleluYah!!!

It is documented, that little Crosby memorised five chapters of the Bible each week from the age of 10. She was encouraged initially, by her grandmother, and later by Mrs. Hawley. By the time she turned 15, Crosby had memorised the four gospels, the Pentateuch, the Book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and many of the Psalms. All this in a mere five years of time!!!

Fanny J. Crosby used her extraordinary musical ability to write hymns, which we still sing today, “To God Be the Glory” and “Blessed Assurance.” Most of the hymns that she wrote, are from her personal experiences, or from answered prayers. Recounting the story behind the hymn,  ‘All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,’ she says it was born out of a personal experience.

There is so much to learn from this wonderful lady, and her courage to face life head on, and live a full and fruitful life. Her perspective on her life, and her joyful approach towards all the challenges being blind, is what makes her an inspiration to all of us, even today. Sadly, many of us, who have so much in life, can’t seem to appreciate life, nor achieve as much as this blind lady did. I refer to Fanny Crosby’s blindness to let us see, that she never let it hinder her, and her efforts to do something worthwhile with the God given life. How about us?