Blinded when only six weeks old by a fake doctor, only to have her father who she would never know die a few weeks later, Fanny Crosby was a woman with an amazing attitude about life! Writing between 5,500 and 9,000 hymns, her blindness did not hinder her from ministering to others as God called her to.
Crosby was born in 1820 to John and Mercy Crosby as their only child. Since Mercy had to take a job after her husband's death, Fanny was very much raised by her grandmother. In her childhood, she loved writing poetry and memorizing five chapters of the Bible each week. She quickly could recite large portions of the Word of God.
In her life, Crosby became well known as a poet. By the time she was 23 years old she was even known among government officials and multiple presidents. She wrote many poems for use in newspapers, cantatas, hymns, books, etc. However, she did not start writing hymns until 1864. The lyrics for songs like Blessed Assurance, He Hideth My Soul, Rescue the Perishing, Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior, and Near the Cross all came from the pen of Fanny Crosby. Although she played several instruments and could write music for her poems, most often her husband, Alexander van Alstine, wrote music for her lyrics.
It is amazing how Crosby was used by the Lord to write so many hymns to encourage people of all ages throughout the last nearly two centuries. Her amazing attitude, hard-working mentality, and love for the Lord and His Word should be an example to all of us!
Information adapted from:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fanny-Crosby
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/p...
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