FANNY CROSBY

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.                                   Psalm 100:4

In a previous blog, we have indicated that Gail goes every Tuesday to the Lenawee Medical Care Facility to visit several of the patients. One of the ladies, Margaret, is blind, but she has a real love for music having been a church pianist in Waldron for many years.  And she also played in a band. At one visit, they got to talking about Fanny Crosby who was a blind hymn writer who lived in the 1800s. They found that Fanny became blind as the result of mustard poultices being put on her eyes when she was six weeks old. She saw over 8,000 of her poems set to music and over 100,000,000 copies of her songs printed. The Christian world was given such songs as: A Shelter In The Time Of Storm, Blessed Assurance, Rescue The Perishing, and Take The World But Give Me Jesus. At the age of 37 she married a man who was also blind. They both taught in a school for blind people. A child was born to them but died while yet a baby.

It was evident at a very young age that Fanny had a unique ability to write poetry but an even better ability to overcome her blindness. To make this point, at age eight she wrote a very compelling poem: "O what a happy soul I am! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't. To weep and sign because I'm blind, I can't, and I won't."

On Saturday Gail invited Audrey Clay to come to the Lenawee Medical Care Facility and share her talent as a pianist with Margaret and other patients that Gail is familiar with. Needless to say, Audrey serenaded the group with many of Fanny Crosby's hymns to which the group joined in with heartfelt singing. Finally, Margaret asked if she might be able to play the piano, even with her blindness.
With much maneuvering, they were able to wheel her close enough to the piano so that she could chord with one hand. While playing with her one hand Audrey accompanied her with the other.
To be able to play the piano again brought much joy to Margaret. The people who attended were very delighted.

             Audrey on the piano and Margaret playing her harmonica

                               Others enjoying the music

May we be found counting our blessings no matter what our situation is. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11, "in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny