The web site for Joni, www.joniandfriends.org, opens up a multitude of activities in which Joni is involved. She closes her memoir, The God I Love, with this profound statement: "There are more important things in life than walking."
 
So what do we gather from these two people who have survived and thrived in their lives? There is always hope and a loving God who makes a way when there seems no way...

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The birth of a baby on March 24, 1823, in Putnam County, N.Y. was exciting. There were no troubles on the horizon for little Fanny Jane Crosby. All was well until her eye infection began at six weeks of age. The doctor prescribed the wrong medication, and the baby never regained her sight.
 
Even though there was anguish and fear within her family, their child grew into a fine young woman. She attended the New York School for the Blind and later became a teacher there. The hope and compassion that she gave them encouraged her students.
 
Kenneth W. Osbeck writes in his book, 101 Hymn Stories: "It is estimated that Fanny Crosby wrote more than 8,000 gospel song texts in her lifetime. Her hymns have been and are still being sung move frequently than those of any other gospel hymn writer."
 
Looking back upon the life of this great hymn writer, we remember the first weeks of her life. What would her future be? Would she always need to be cared for? Could she become a productive member of society? Her response to these questions can be found in the poem she wrote when she was eight years old:

Oh, what a happy soul am I! 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 sigh because I'm blind, I cannot and I won't!

Near the end of her life someone said to Fanny Crosby that they were very sorry her sight was taken away when she was a baby. She replied that she was not sad but happy to be blind. She continued: "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior."
 
Before she saw the Savior's face at ninety five years of age, this particular hymn expressed her vision as a believer who was filled with God's power and shared it with others:

To God be the glory, great things He hath done.
So loved he the world that he gave us his son.
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin.
And opened the life-gate, that all may go in.

"Praise the Lord" is repeated four times in the chorus. I thank Him for the glory that carried Fanny Crosby throughout her life. I also praise the Lord for Van Johnson and Joni Eareckson Tada who are experiencing God's glory now. They too have surrendered to His plans for their lives.
 
Dear God, our Father of glory, love and power. We are amazed at your ability to take the weakest vision of what life might be, and make it sparkle with glory. From darkness we can see the beautiful light of Jesus. Help us to live in expectancy of what each day can bring when we live it in your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lucy Neeley Adams has always loved music. She began telling the story of hymns on Christian radio WWGM in Nashville, TN, in the '80s. She then wrote a newspaper column titled "Song Stories" for five years. During that time Lucy's book, 52 Hymn Story Devotions, was published by Abingdon Press in Nashville. Each of the 52 stories contained in the book is written in a devotional format, with the words of the hymn concluding each devotion.
Lucy, dubbed "The hymn lady," can be heard on the first Thursday of each month when she discusses hymn stories during a telephone interview with Michelle Mendoza of "Living Christian".  The program is aired on station  KCIS in Seattle, WA.
Lucy lives at Lake Junaluska, NC, with her minister husband, Woody. They have four children and fourteen grandchildren. She may be reached for comment at lucya424@aol.com. Visit her at 52hymns.com.