Beautiful Distractions

How would you feel, if you suddenly lost the gifts so many of us take for granted, such as vision, hearing, or the ability to walk? 

Fanny Crosby was struck blind at just 6 weeks of age, but God had a plan for her. She was raised by her mother and grandmother after her father’s death when she was about 6 months old, and although she grew up poor, she was blessed to attend an excellent school for the blind in New York state, near where the family lived.

Fanny enrolled at the New York Institution for the Blind in 1835, just before her 15th birthday. She was a student of the school for 11 years, eventually joining the faculty as a teacher for another 12 years. During her time at the school, she learned to play the piano, organ, harp, and guitar, and became a good soprano singer. After graduation, she joined a group of lobbyists in Washington, D.C., arguing for support of education for the blind. Fanny was the first woman to speak in the United States Senate when she read a poem on the Senate floor encouraging funding for state schools for the blind.

Fanny befriended 17-year-old Grover Cleveland, future President of the United States, while she was a teacher, and in fact, she knew each of the presidents who served during her lifetime through her work as a celebrated poet and songwriter.

She later stated: “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.”

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us to set aside every distraction and focus on your plan for us. We often take for granted the gifts you’ve given us. Remind us to be grateful, and to use our gifts for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
How would you feel if you suddenly lost the gifts
so many of us take for granted,such as vision, hearing, or the
ability to walk?
Fanny Crosby was struck blind atjust six weeks of age, but God
had a plan for her.
She was raised by her mother andgrandmother after her father's
death, and when she was aboutsix months old, and although she
grew up poor, she was blessed toattend an excellent school for

(00:24):
the blind in New York State,near where the family lived.
Fanny enrolled at the New YorkInstitution for the Blind in
1835, just before her 15thbirthday.
She was a student of the schoolfor 11 years, eventually joining
the faculty as a teacher foranother 12.
During her time at the school,she learned to play the piano,
organ, harp, and guitar andbecame a good soprano singer.

(00:47):
After graduation, she joined agroup of lobbyists in
Washington, D.C., arguing forsupport of education for the
blind.
Fanny was the first woman tospeak in the United States
Senate when she read a poem onthe Senate floor encouraging
funding for state schools forthe blind.
Fanny befriended 17-year-oldGrover Cleveland, future

(01:07):
president of the United States,when she was a teacher, and in
fact, she knew each of thepresidents who served during her
lifetime through her work as acelebrated poet and songwriter.
She later stated, It seemedintended by the blessed
providence of God that I shouldbe blind all my life, and I
thank him for the dispensation.
If perfect earthly sight wereoffered me tomorrow, I would not

(01:30):
accept it.
I might not have sung hymns tothe praise of God if I had been
distracted by the beautiful andinteresting things about me.
Let's pray.
Lord, help us to set aside everydistraction and focus on your
plan for us.
We often take for granted thegifts that you've given us.

(01:52):
Lord, remind us to be gratefuland to use our gifts for your
glory.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.