BLINDed by Doctor, Yet SEEing

She could have mourned; she could have been sad; she could have been critical; she could have been bitter; she could have been even revengeful. She could have been one, if not all of these, all her life! But no, thank God she was more than a conqueror!

Although Fanny Crosby was blinded by the very person who was supposed to help her when she needed a doctor’s service, she did not lose her sight or focus on the Person she came to love, the One who gave His life for her. Anyone who has studied her works can say without hesitation that they reflect a tremendous love for her Savior.

The following is an excerpt of the credence that was given her:

“Fanny Crosby was probably the most prolific hymnist in history. Though blinded by an incompetent doctor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns. About her blindness, she said:

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.

In her lifetime, Fanny Crosby was one of the best known women in the United States. To this day, the vast majority of American hymnals contain her work.”



Above Quote & Photo Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/c/r/o/crosby_fj.htm


Was she blameless? Of course, not! Was she going through life defeated because of her shortcoming? No, Fanny Crosby did not allow her blindness, or the above negative emotions or attitudes of heart to ruin her close relationship with her Redeemer. She looked at things positively, and in confidence and steadfastness, she continued to trust and serve Him. Thus was the attitude that birthed a great hymn-writer, probably the greatest hymnist of all times! She will definitely be remembered for a long time to come. Attitude triumphs over all!

Blinded most of her life, but what did she see? “VISIONS OF RAPTURE now burst on my sight.”¹ These were her own words found in one of her hymns.

Was she a rich lady? I don’t know; I doubt so. But she was certainly rich in the things that would last for eternity; and no doubt so, since she would not even trade full earthly vision for her blindness, lest she should lose her heart for singing hymns to God!² Such was her love for her Lord.

Fanny lived till a ripe old age of 95 years old³, blind virtually all her life! Yet, what a life well lived! What a blessed life!




¹ Refer the all-time well-known song, “Blessed Assurance …” (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/l/e/blesseda.htm)

² In her words, “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…” http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/c/r/o/crosby_fj.htm

³ This was indeed a very long life at a time when the life expectancy of Americans was less than 50 (while the rest of the world, only 30 to 40); even in this modern age when Americans can expect, at birth, to live over 80 long years, nonagenarians are still rare.