The Story Of Fanny Crosby

The Story Of Fanny Crosby

When it comes to writing hymns, few have surpassed the incredibly prolific work of Fanny Crosby. During her 95 years, she wrote about 8000-9000 hymns before passing away in 1915. She had become a household name by then, and the nation’s churches honored her by declaring a Fanny Crosby Day in March of 1925.

Although blinded by a doctor’s error as a six week old baby, she began writing poetry at the age of 8 and studying the Bible with her mother and Aunt. She was very bright and memorized 5 chapters of the Bible every week.

Fanny began her career by writing minstrel songs for a dollar apiece. After a talk with the great William Bradbury, she dedicated herself to writing hymns. She quickly established herself and she was much sought after for her lyrics. When Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey began using her hymns in their revivals, she exploded in popularity, becoming a public speaker and a friend of presidents. When William Henry Harrison died, she wrote the poem for his eulogy.

Despite her success, she lived in the worst part of Manhattan and was deeply involved in ministry to the homeless and the wayward. Many of her hymns reflect her passion for evangelism and missions.

What made Fanny special was her godly willingness to accept her lot in life with grace and beauty. When someone suggested that she would be better off had she not been blinded she said, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior."

All of us in the church owe something to men and women like Fanny Crosby. She sacrificed herself to make the world better for others and to bring men and women closer to their God. Isn’t that what Christ asks of all of us? Fanny didn’t just talk the talk, she walked the walk.

2 John 1:6

“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”