Born in Putnam County, New York, Crosby became ill within two months. Unfortunately, the family doctor was away, and another man—pretending to be a certified doctor—treated her by prescribing hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes. Her illness eventually relented, but the treatment left her blind. When the doctor was revealed to be a quack, he disappeared. A few months later, Crosby's father died. Her mother was forced to find work as a maid to support the family, and Fanny was mostly raised by her Christian grandmother.
Her love of poetry began early—her first verse, written at age 8, echoed her lifelong refusal to feel sorry for herself:
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, and I won't!
In the end, Fanny wrote more than 9,000 hymns (including the very popular “Blessed Assurance”). Although blind, she would memorize five chapters of the Bible a week! She gave herself zealously to supporting evangelistic and missionary work in every way she could.
Here are some quotes from Fanny that I hope will encourage you.
"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."
"It is not enough to have a song on your lips. You must also have a song in your heart."
“God will answer you prayers better than you think. Of course, one will not always get exactly what he has asked for....We all have sorrows and disappointments, but one must never forget that, if commended to God, they will issue in good....His own solution is far better than any we could conceive.”
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”
“Take the wold, but give me Jesus; In His cross my trust shall be, Till, with clearer, brighter vision Face to face my Lord I see.”
“Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed thru His infinite mercy His child and forever I am.”
"If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior."
Biographies on Fanny Crosby:
Her Heart Can See: The LIfe and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby
Edith Blumhofer, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005
978-0802842534
Fanny Crosby’s Life Story
William Howitt, Forgotten Books, 2016
978-1333511708
Fanny J. Crosby: Autobiography
Fanny Crosby, Hendrickson Publishers, 2008
978-1598562811
Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song
Lucille Travis, Trailblazers, 2013
978-1781911631
Essene Press Team
