The Lyricist

Fanny Crosby

When confronted with obstacles, what do you do to overcome them?

For some, the greater the challenge, the more committed they become to press on.  And for a few, the gifts of the Spirit that await are truly great.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. - Philippians 3:12

You may not know the name of one of America's greatest lyricists, but you most likely have sung one or more of her hymns.

Francis Jane Crosby was born in 1820 and despite being blinded by a quack doctor within two months of birth, Fanny as she was known by her students, by composers everywhere, and by presidents, generals and leaders of industry, was a true example of rising above her obstacles.

We may not recognize her name, but we know her lyrics, for she was so prolific, writing over 9,000 hymns, that many bear her pen names so that the hymnals that include her work wouldn't appear to have all lyrics written by the same person.

One of my favorites is "Blessed Assurance" which includes the refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior all the day long.

On her 85th birthday, her dear friend, President Grover Cleveland, who had served as secretary to the Institute for the Blind, wrote her this letter:

My dear friend:
It is more than fifty years ago that our acquaintance and friendship began; and ever since that time I have watched your continuous and interested labor in uplifting humanity, and pointing out the way to an appreciation of God’s goodness and mercy.
Though your labors have, I know, brought you abundant rewards in your consciousness of good accomplished, those who have known of your works and sympathized with your noble purposes owe it to themselves that you are apprized of their remembrance of these things. I am, therefore, exceedingly gratified to learn that your eighty-fifth birthday is to be celebrated with a demonstration of this remembrance. As one proud to call you an old friend, I desire to be early in congratulating you on your long life of usefulness, and wishing you in the years yet to be added to you, the peace and comfort born of the love of God.
Yours very sincerely,
Grover Cleveland

Fanny was well known and well loved in her lifetime, knowing all the presidents and many members of congress that served during her 95 years.  She was an accomplished musician and composer in her own right, and was quite capable of writing very complex and classical pieces, but she chose to keep it simple, to focus on the messages by which she lived her life, the words that the Spirit sent  her way.

The last stanza she wrote was "You will reach the river brink, some sweet day, bye and bye."

A month shy of her 95th birthday, she reached that river.

Thank you, Fanny, for your perseverance and faith.  May you continue to inspire and move us with the blessed assurance of His love.

More to come...


You can check out the lyrics to over 600 of her hymns here.