They will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord. Psalm 107:43

            Her sight was stolen from her as a baby when a quack doctor placed hot poultices on her tender eyes.  Scar tissue formed and she was trapped in a world of physical darkness.  She was cared for by her grandmother while her mother worked to support the family by cleaning houses.  Grandma Eunice taught her about nature, poetry, and the Bible.  She also prayed regularly with her granddaughter and at the age of seven the little girl understood the simple nature of true faith and gave her life to Jesus.  At the time, her young mind could not fathom how a blind girl could find a meaningful place in God's great purpose, but she asked that God would use her life.  Use it, He did.

            With the help of a kind landlady, the young girl memorized scripture, sometimes as many as five chapters a week, until she knew the Pentateuch, the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels by heart.  She also began writing poetry where her gifted words were laced with powerful realities that flowed from her knowledge of Scripture.  Her mother's hard work enabled her to attend The Institution for the Blind in New York City at the age of fifteen where she further developed her poetic gift.  She remained at the school for twenty-three years, twelve as a student and eleven as a teacher.  Her poetry was soon set to music and hymn after hymn flowed from her pen.  This young poetess was Fanny Crosby, the most prolific hymn-writer in Christian history.  Her heart, saturated with God's Word and enabled by her unique poetic gift, gave rise to over 8000 hymns.  The popularity of her hymns spread throughout American churches during the last half of the nineteenth century and became a catalyst in the greatest revival of the early 1900's.  Most of us who have sat in a church pew at any time over the last century have sung her powerful lyrics in hymns such as Blessed Assurance, To God Be the Glory, Tell Me the Story of Jesus, Praise Him!  Praise Him!, and many others.

            Fanny's influence went far beyond the publishing of her hymns, however.  Several books of stories and poems were also published.  While at the school she had an opportunity with a group of students to come before Congress at which time she recited several of her poems.  A host of historically influential people were moved by her words that day and her literary fame began to spread.  During her lifetime she came to personally know every living president except George Washington.  The impact of her life and writing was far-reaching.

            How could God use the sacrificial labor of a mother?  How could God use the loving instruction of a grandmother?  How could God use a little blind girl?  History shows us that God could and would use them greatly.  Whenever and wherever lives are surrendered to the will and work of God, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, God will use them.  Such divinely energized influence creates a domino effect that can resonate with eternal good for generations.

            You are making history.  You are making history by the imprint of your life on that of others.  You are making history as you cultivate your personal gifts to invest for the kingdom of God.  You are making history as you yield your weaknesses and liabilities to God for him to transform for his glory.  As you do, people will see it.  And through your life and those you influence they will see the faithful love the Lord.