Frances Jane Crosby
Warning: This is yet another "When I was a little boy story."
When I was a little boy - sitting bored in Church - I played a game in which I went from page to page in the hymnal looking for the songs whose lyrics were penned by Fanny J Crosby. I never had to turn many pages to find one.
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.
This past Monday was her birthday - she turned 188 years old. I meant to send her a card.
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My favorite:
All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
2 comments:
Oh, you should have sent a card! One that you made yourself. She would have enjoyed it.
When I was little (really little) I couldn't stand and hold the hymnal because it was too heavy to hold and I was too short to rest it on the pew in front of me. But my parents insisted that I learn to stand and sing and behave like an adult - so they found me a little red (our hymnals were red) paper songbook. Who knows what was in it...but I took that thing to church every Sunday and it was my "hymnal." I didn't actually need the words, because they'd raised me to know those.
And now I have a deep appreciation for hymns and genuinely miss singing them (except for scattered occasions) in church. Fanny wrote some really great ones - and I have much to learn from her outlook on life. Much.
Malott:
Way kewl info to know!
While I appreciate your intent, I have to ask: Just how do you think you would have been able to deliver that card? Put it on a helium balloon and release it into the air? (smile)
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