Fanny Crosby was born March 24, 1820. When she was born, she had an eye infection. Her parents sought help from someone who smeared a paste in her eyes. Unfortunately, the paste blinded Fanny. Even though early on she lost the ability to see, she was still a very happy and thankful child. At just 8 years old she wrote this poem:
“Oh, what a happy child 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,
So weep or sigh because I’m blind, I cannot nor-I won’t.”
Fanny’s condition did not keep her from enjoying a full life of God’s blessings. It also didn’t keep her from living a life of thankfulness to God. Fanny realized all that Christ had done for her in the gospel and that caused her to not concentrate on her temporary condition of blindness, but instead to love and adore the God that she would spend eternity with. Instead of being caught up in the difficult situation of blindness, Fanny concentrated on the love of God she had experienced in the gospel.
Are We Thankful?
When we come to realize that our sins mean that we deserve to be eternally separated from God, yet the cross rescued us from this fate, it should move us to love God with our whole hearts! No matter what our difficulties, or problems, we are guaranteed a relationship with God forever through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection on our behalf. There is an old song that says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” When we understand the gospel, we know that we can face any of life’s difficulties, knowing that in the end we will spend eternity with God. If you have believed the gospel, there is no longer a judgement against you. You have been justified completely and you are no longer held accountable for your sins. In all of life’s difficulties you must remember the important truth that in God’s courtroom, your judgement fell upon Jesus and His goodness fell upon you. Because this is true, remember Paul’s words in I Thessalonians 5:18, “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This Thanksgiving…..
Remember all that Christ has accomplished in your behalf and be thankful. Remember Fanny’s example and don’t let any of the temporary difficulties of this world blind you from the eternal glory that we will experience with Jesus in heaven!
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”