Writer of beautiful hymns
March 6, 2009 (Friday)
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote nearly 9,000 hymns, songs and poems and many of them are in our hymnals. One of my favorites is “Blessed Assurance.” Mrs. Phoebe Knapp brought a tune to Fanny Crosby and played it for her, hoping Fanny would think of some words for the hymn. Immediately, as she listened, she said, “Why, that says, ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine.’” It’s been saying it for a long time, for it is a favorite among Christians everywhere.
Fanny Crosby became a poet while still a child, and wrote the words for many of the most popular poems, songs and hymns. Blind since early childhood, she was blessed with the gift of writing verse. God has blessed her hymns through many years. She has been gone from this world for 94 years, but her life’s work lives on.
The method employed in writing the words of “Blessed Assurance” was the way she wrote her songs. Someone else would write the tunes, bring them to her, and she would instinctively know the words as she listened.
What is your favorite Fanny Crosby hymn? Could it be, “To God Be the Glory?” It declares, “Great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son!” Or is it, “Praise Him! Praise Him!” which urges us to “tell of His excellent greatness! Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”
How thankful we are for her and the many others who have given us words and music for worship. These hymns have stirred our hearts and enabled our worship. We are richer spiritually because of them.