08/30/2026
F***y Crosby was born in 1820 in Putnam County, New York, and her life was forever changed as an infant when she lost her sight at just six weeks old. According to most accounts, a traveling doctor prescribed a treatment of hot mustard poultices applied to her eyes to remedy an ordinary cold, but instead, it led to permanent blindness. Despite this tragedy, F***y’s mother, Mercy, and grandmother believed her disability was a divine act, nurturing her faith and spirit rather than despairing over what had happened. F***y herself grew up grateful, later declaring she would not choose to have her sight restored even if given the chance, believing her blindness had called her to a purpose higher than what she could have achieved otherwise.
Throughout her childhood and youth, Crosby exhibited extraordinary memory and poetic ability. By fifteen, she entered the New York Institution for the Blind, where she flourished academically and socially, eventually becoming a teacher of English and history. Yet it was her gift for verse and music that would shape her legacy. F***y’s earliest poems gave voice to her faith and experience as “the blind girl,” and soon she published her first book. She became the first woman to speak publicly before the U.S. Senate and developed friendships with presidents and famous evangelists alike. After marrying Alexander Van Alstyne, a fellow blind teacher, F***y suffered the heartbreak of losing their only child in infancy.
Despite personal sorrows, Crosby’s life bloomed with purpose. Driven by a profound trust in God’s providence, she composed over 8,000 hymns, among them beloved classics like “Blessed Assurance”, “To God Be The Glory”, Tell Me The Story If Jesus”, “Redeemed How I Love To Proclaim It” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” In her later years, she devoted herself to rescue mission work among New York’s poor, giving away much of her income to charity and living simply, though she was often on the edge of poverty herself. F***y Crosby never considered her blindness a loss but rather a gift that sharpened her spiritual vision and enabled her to encourage millions through song and service. She passed away in 1915, leaving a legacy rooted in faith, resilience, and a life truly yielded to God.anny Crosby was born in 1820 in Putnam County, New York. When she was only six weeks old, she lost her eyesight. Most accounts say that a traveling doctor treated her for a simple cold by putting hot mustard poultices on her eyes. Sadly, the treatment caused permanent blindness.
Although this was a difficult situation, F***y’s mother, Mercy, and her grandmother chose to focus on faith rather than sadness. They believed that God still had a purpose for F***y’s life. As F***y grew older, she also developed a strong faith. She later said that even if she had the opportunity to have her sight restored, she would not choose it because she believed her blindness had helped lead her to a greater purpose.
From a young age, F***y showed an amazing ability to memorize things and write poetry. At the age of fifteen, she entered the New York Institution for the Blind. She did very well in school and later became a teacher of English and history there.
However, writing poetry and music became one of the most important parts of her life. Her early poems often reflected her faith and her experiences as a blind person, and she eventually published her first book. F***y became the first woman to speak publicly before the U.S. Senate. She also met and became friends with important people, including presidents and well-known evangelists.
F***y later married Alexander Van Alstyne, who was also blind and worked as a teacher. Together, they experienced great sadness when their only child died as an infant.
Even through the difficult times in her life, F***y continued to trust God and serve others. She wrote more than 8,000 hymns, including well-known songs such as “Blessed Assurance” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus, this last one written after the passing of her infant.
Later in life, F***y spent much of her time helping poor people in New York City through rescue mission work. She gave much of her own money to charity and lived a simple life, even though she sometimes struggled financially herself.
F***y Crosby did not see her blindness as something that destroyed her life. Instead, she believed it helped her grow closer to God and gave her a special purpose. Through her music, faith, and service to others, she encouraged millions of people.
F***y Crosby died in 1915, but her legacy continues today. Her life is remembered as a powerful example of faith, strength, resilience, and trusting God’s purpose even through difficult circumstances.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:13
The Lord has given you talents to use, and in using these talents as He intended they should be used, you will have increased aptitude and wisdom and clear spiritual eyesight to understand His work. Your mind and eyes must watch for His appearing, your ears open to hear the faintest whisperings of His voice. Your knees He has made; use them in kneeling in prayer. He is your strength. By faith take hold of the Unseen. Let your feet be shod with the preparation of the gospel for running obediently in the way of His commandments. Your tongue and voice are a talent given you of God to tell the story of His life, of His lessons, of His death, of His resurrection, of His ascension. Your bodily strength is to be devoted to the Master in fighting the good fight of faith on the battlefield, overcoming His enemies with “It is written.” Your sympathies and energies belong to God. Use them to glorify your Redeemer....
Cultivate the thought that you are not alone. All your steps are watched by the Lord. You are encompassed with vigilant angels.... As the angels ministered unto Jacob, so certainly will they minister unto all of the Lord’s humble, contrite ones....
Reach up, higher and still higher, taking hold of one line of faith after another. Walk and work in love to God and the poor oppressed ones, and the Lord will be your helper. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” John 1:51. Jesus the precious Saviour, the Son of the living God, is the ladder uniting the celestial world with the terrestrial. His divinity lays hold of the throne of God. His humanity touches the earth. His human arm encircles the entire human race. Through Jesus Christ the angelic ministrations in love, in comfort, in reproof, in light, reach us. O thank the Lord, for He is good, and His mercies endure forever!
Romans 12:1-2“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”Dedicate every part of life to God’s will.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost... therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”Your body and talents belong to God for His glory.
Colossians 3:17“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”Every action and word should point to Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-11“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God...”
God supplies strength we need
John 15:5“I am the vine, ye are the branches... for without me ye can do nothing.”Dependence on Christ is vital to living a fruitful life in righteousness.
