Not Your Ordinary Girl

by Sarah H.
from Virtuous Daughters, January 2006~Volume 5, Number 10

What if as a baby your doctor made a mistake that resulted in personal blindness?
What would you have thought? Was the doctor not educated? Negligent? Careless? How could something this tragic befall you? Would you be mad at the doctor, your parents, or even God? This “what if” was a reality for a person named Fanny Crosby. How would she handle this calamity? “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . For when I am weak, then am I strong.”--2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Fanny Jane Crosby was born in the year 1820. She was born a “normal” baby to a revolutionary family that lived in New York. Like any parents, John and Mercy Crosby probably envisioned their daughter’s success, accomplishments, prosperity,
and achievements. Her first days of life were just that, typical.

Fanny caught a common cold at six weeks of age. Here eyes were a bit inflamed from the illness, so her parents called the doctor. Their doctor was out of town, so the substitute doctor paid the visit. Little did everyone know that this little incident would change Fanny’s life in a most dramatic way.

The doctor misdiagnosed and mistakenly prescribed an improper drug. Within days, the drug took action.

Darkness for little Fanny’s entire life was the outcome. The doctor fled the town upon receiving the news. Imagine the feelings that must have been felt by her family and friends. No, Fanny was not meant to be your typical, average, normal girl.

Average? Hardly. How many ten-year olds do you know that have most of the New Testament and five+ books of the Old Testament memorized? No, God had very extraordinary plans for this “little blind girl*.” During those ten years of life, her father died, her family (and her) decided to move, and of course, her blindness was discovered.

Fanny Jane Crosby:
1820, March 24--
Birth, Putnam County, NY
1820, May
Blindness occurs/discovered
1829
Studies under Mr. Hawley—Bible/poetry
1830
Able to recite from memory most of New Testament and 5+ Old Testament books
1835–1858
Lived at NY School for the Blind, first as student, then as teacher
1844
Published her first volume The Blind Girl and Other Poems
1850, November
Committed her life to Christ at revival
1851
Published her second volume Monterey and Other Poems
1858
Married Alexander Van Alstyne
1864
Started writing Gospel songs
1864–1889
Most hymns written, secular poems also produced
1897
Publishes “Bells at Evening and Other Verses”
1902
Husband Alexander dies
1915, February 12--
Writes last hymn; died—Bridgeport, Connecticut

She noticed that she was different than any of her playmates. The discovery, though,
in no way, shape, or form hampered the confident, cheerful way in which she conducted herself. Those traits would be two that would be characteristic of her life.

Known for mischief, Fanny spent as much time as possible climbing trees, riding horses, and playing practical jokes on her many friends. To balance her fun-loving, carefree side, she was a very refined young lady. She dressed herself and had impeccable table manners. She was extremely blessed to have a committed, intelligent, and patient grandmother that took time to read the Bible to
her daily, praying earnestly for her. She also took Fanny on nature walks, descriptively painting on the canvas of Fanny’s mind the details of God’s creation.

As a young lady of fifteen, Fanny’s appetite for learning was met as she attended the
New York School for the Blind. Her previous study of the Bible and poetry under a
Mr. Hawley gave her love for literature a solid foundation. She was writing poems
from a young age. One of her first works shows her acceptance and acknowledgment
of her blindness: 
“Oh, what a happy soul am I 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.”
 
What would your poem have been if you were in her place?

Adulthood is the time in which Fanny’s writings seemed to blossom and flourish. A big factor in the equation was that Fanny accepted Jesus as her Savior at age thirty.
“Salvation is like a floodtide of celestial light.” she wrote. Her writing process (lyrics only, never did she compose the melody for her works) always began in prayer. She then composed and edited the works in her head and then dictated them to her secretary, a friend, or her husband, whom she married in 1858. Fanny was not ever strong in Braille (and could write little more than her name), but heavily relied on her incredible memory to compose her works. She was known to compose six or seven hymns in her head per day!

Yes, adulthood also brought marriage for Fanny. She married Alexander Van Alstyne, a blind musician mastering the piano and cornet.

Fanny always wrote motivated by her own deep abiding faith, not with the intention
of financial gain. She surrendered her finances to the Lord’s control, accepting payment just enough to live by, graciously turning away excess. Her biographies do not reflect self-pity or despair, but rather leave readers encouraged and strengthened. The power of the pen is seen clearly in this woman of faith’s life, for Fanny came to write almost 9,000 hymns to glorify her Lord.

Humility was another of her many  character qualities. She used a total of 200
pseudonyms** to preserve her modesty. We are still uncovering songs that can be traced back to her prolific pen! Someone once expressed:
“Fanny Crosby’s name is suspended like a halo above modern hymnology . . . it
will live on as long as people sing the gospel.”

How truly remarkable!

In 1915, Fanny wrote her last hymn. She was 94 when her Savior called her home. She was ready! Salvation she knew was hers and she was deeply grateful for that gift. One of the many hymns Fanny composted was "My Song shall be of Jesus." How accurately was this song titled! It was written in 1875!
My song shall be of Jesus,
His mercy crowns my days,
He fills my cup with blessings,
and tunes my heart to praise;
My song shall be of Jesus,
the precious Lamb of God,
Who gave Himself my ransom,
and bought me with His blood
My song shall be of Jesus,
when sitting at His feet,
I call to mind His goodness
and know my joy’s complete;
My song shall be of Jesus,
Whatever ills befall,
I’ll sing the grace that saves me,
and triumphs over all.
My song shall be of Jesus,
while pressing on my way
To where my home shines glorious
in pure and perfect day.
And when my soul shall enter
the many mansions fair,
A song of praise to Jesus
I’ll sing forever there.

“When I get to
heaven, the first
face that shall
ever gladden my
sight will be
that of my
Savior!”

“If perfect
earthly sight
were offered me
tomorrow, I
would not accept
it.”

“For I know
that whate’er
befall me, Jesus
doeth all things
well.”

“Although it
may have been a
blunder on the
physician’s part,
it was no mistake
of God’s.”

“Rescue the
Perishing!”

“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.”

“To God be the glory great
things He hath done . . .”

From A–Y, Fanny’s inspirational songs fill the hymnals and songbooks everywhere.
She may have been physically blind, but her spiritual eyes were 20/20. Fanny had a
choice. Her blindness could have made her bitter or better. She chose the latter, surrendered her life to Christ, memorized Scripture, and fulfilled His purposes for her life.

You, too, have to make the choice to accept and follow the Lord, surrendered, and thus empowered unto His almighty will. It’s never too early; choose before it’s
too late!

The pen has been used many times and in many ways. Fanny Crosby truly used it to further the kingdom of Christ and provide sight to the blind of heart.

*“Blind Girl,” a name she used on occasion to refer to herself
**A pseudonym is also known as a pen, fictitious, false, or stage name

Note: Fanny was often seen carrying an American flag, along with her Bible
American flag along with her Bible