Throughout the centuries, there have been many remarkable and gifted Christians who have, because of their gifting and faithfulness, left indelible marks upon Christianity. One such person is Frances Jane Crosby, known more famously as Fanny Crosby.
Fanny lived her life in the tumultuous frontierism of the 19th century. She lived a simple life as a wife and a missionary worker, but she will be remembered as one of the greatest hymn lyricists of all time, rivaled only by Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley, having penned over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime. In fact, towards the end of her life, she was so prolific that she started to publish hymns under pseudonyms just so her name would not be the only name in the hymnal. This remarkable feat is brought into a greater light when we consider that she was blind from infancy.
Although Fanny had eyesight at birth, when she was an infant she became very ill. And, unbeknownst to the family, a man claiming to be a doctor prescribed that her eyes be salved with hot mustard. The result was that Fanny became blind and spent her whole life as such.
There is a story of a pastor coming up to Fanny after a service and telling her, "Fanny, it is a great shame that God has blessed you with such gifts but neglected to give you your sight." To which Fanny snapped back with laughter, "Ha, if I could have wished for something before I was born, I would have wished to be born blind for when I die, the first face I see will be my precious Savior."
What a beautiful sentiment. And my prayer is that we would take the same mind among us. It is also valuable to be reminded at the value of history in our faith.
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