18/09/2022
Newly born at the age of six weeks old. F***y Crosby caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes that left her completely blind.
In November 1820, her father died when she was just six months old. At the age of eight, she wrote her first poem describing her despair.
One day, 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. She continued, "If perfect earthly sight were offered to 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.” She also once said, “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”
She grew up memorizing several Bible chapters with the help of her granny.
At age 35, she married a 27 years old man. In 1857 F***y gave birth to a baby, unfortunately, the baby died in her sleep shortly after her birth.
What could she do?
Was she created to deal with pains and endless struggles?
Nevertheless, at the height of her despair, she summoned courage and wrote her famous hymn in 1872, “To God Be the Glory; Great things He has done”
Her fans couldn't help but wonder how she chose to stand strong despite her plight.
According to biographer Annie Willis, “Had it not been for her affliction, he said, she might not have sung so good, had an education or had so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory.”
F***y Crosby went ahead to write several hit hymns such as, “Pass Me Not, O gentle Savior,” ``Blessed assurance, praise him, praise him. Before her death, it is noted that F***y wrote more than 8000 hymns.
On February 12, 1915, after six-month of illness, she died at the age of 94. Her family lifted a small tombstone at her request, which carried the words: “Aunt F***y: She hath done what she could.”
In March 1925, about 3,000 churches throughout the United States observed F***y Crosby Day, commemorating the 105th anniversary of her birth.
Credit: Apotheosis of knowledge.