Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song

Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song

In the Trailblazers Series!

If you’ve ever picked up a hymn book, chances are that you’ve sung a song written by a blind girl – and not just any blind girl: Fanny Crosby. As a young child she knew nothing of the sighted world around her but that didn’t stop her interacting with nature, experiencing the thrill of God’s creation. She held her grandmother’s hand but she thought that was because Grandmother needed her help, and not the other way around.

Francis (“Fanny”) Jane Crosby wrote more than 9,000 hymns, some of which are among the most popular in every Christian denomination. She wrote so many that she decided to begin using pen names, other than her own, so that the hymnals would not be filled with her name, when she wanted her songs to glorify God and not her. And, for most people, the most remarkable thing about her was that she had done so in spite of her blindness.

“I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when he showered so many other gifts upon you,” remarked one well-meaning preacher.

Fanny Crosby responded at once, as she had heard such comments before. “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind?” said the poet, who had been able to see only for her first six weeks of life. “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”

Recommended Reading Level:

Read to me: age 7-8
Read myself: age 9-14

About the Author

Lucille Travis has written several books for children, held children’s writing workshops, taught college-level English, and lectured on Christian literature. Her interest in writing began as a young girl living in an orphanage in upstate New York, and she was encouraged when she received a bronze medal in a state-wide essay contest and later a poetry contest. One of her joys today is encouraging the efforts of young writers. She has also been involved in Children’s Awana clubs as a story teller.

Contents

1. Through Grandmother’s Eyes
2. The Landlady’s Gift
3. I Shall put her on the Mantel
4. The Shape of her Head will Tell
5. The Blind Girl’s Poem
6. Just Too Busy
7. Bring Out Your Coffins
8. A Love Song
9. A Deep Sorr
10. She Would Write Hymns!
11. Help Me Speak to Them
12. Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey
13. Missions
14. Thousands Upon Thousands
15. Four-Nine-Four, Boys!
16. All’s Well, Governor
17. Author
18. Timeline
19. Thinking Further
20. Being Blind Today