Seeing with the Heart

Francis was just 6 weeks old when she became ill in the spring of 1820. The family doctor was out of town, and a charlatan pretending to be a doctor prescribed a treatment that rendered the baby completely blind, although she recovered from the initial illness. A few months later, her father died, and her mother went to work as a maid to support the family. She was raised by her grandmother, a devoted Christian who taught her granddaughter from the Bible.

At the age of 8, the little girl wrote this poem,

“Oh, what a happy soul I am,

Although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.”

The little girl was encouraged to work to the best of her abilities, and not to view herself as limited by blindness. She carried that resourceful attitude throughout her 94 years of living, and during her lifetime penned over 9,000 hymns.

You may not have heard of Fanny Crosby, but if you’ve ever sung or listened to favorite hymns in church, chances are you’ve heard her music.

She poured out her heart writing hymns, many of which are still sung today, nearly 200 years after her birth. Songs such as “Blessed Assurance” and “To God be the Glory” are treasured classics in many denominations.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Fanny Crosby was struck blind as an infant, but she allowed the Lord to shape her story, and used her talents to praise Him, and inspire others to do the same.

Let’s pray.

Lord, the story of Fanny Crosby is an encouraging reminder to rely on you, no matter our circumstances. You had a plan for her life from the very beginning, and the songs you wrote on her heart continue to inspire us today as we worship Your Holy Name. Thank you for writing Fanny’s story so beautifully. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
Frances was just six weeks old when she became ill in
the spring of 1820.
The family doctor was out oftown, and a charlatan,
pretending to be a doctor,prescribed a treatment that
rendered the baby completelyblind, although she recovered
from the initial illness.
A few months later, her fatherdied, and her mother went to
work as a maid to support thefamily.
She was raised by hergrandmother, a devoted Christian

(00:24):
who taught her granddaughterfrom the Bible.
At the age of eight, the littlegirl wrote this poem.
Oh, what a happy soul I am,although I cannot see.
I am resolved that in thisworld, contented, I will be.
The little girl was encouragedto work to the best of her
abilities and not to viewherself as limited by blindness.

(00:45):
She carried that resourcefulattitude throughout her 94 years
of living and during herlifetime penned over 9,000
hymns.
You may not have heard of FannyCrosby, but if you've ever sung
or listened to favorite hymns inthe church, chances are you've
heard her music.
She poured out her heart writinghymns, many of which are still

(01:06):
sung today, nearly 200 yearsafter her birth.
Songs such as Blessed Assuranceand To God be the Glory are
treasured classics in manydenominations.
This is my story.
This is my song, praising mysavior all the day long.
Fanny Crosby was struck blind asan infant, but she allowed the

(01:27):
Lord to shape her story and usedher talents to praise him and
inspire others to do the same.
Let's pray.
Lord, the story of Fanny Crosbyis an encouraging reminder to
rely on you no matter ourcircumstances.
You had a plan for her life fromthe very beginning, and the

(01:47):
songs you wrote on her heartcontinue to inspire us today as
we worship your holy name.
Thank you for writing Fanny'sstory so beautifully.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.