Family Matters

For decades the Lord has placed needy children in my life in a variety of ways. First as a criminal investigator dealing with child abuse.  Then, by God's divine direction, as a foster parent and later an adoptive parent.  Today I have the privilege of playing a role in the lives of thousands abused, abandoned and neglect children.

During this journey, Jesus Love Me, has offered much promise.  I have sang this song at bedtime thousands of times for my five children and dozens of others.  But it is much more than a simple child's song.  As the late Paul Harvey would say . . ."And now - the rest of the story.

The song that has been at the center of teaching children about the love of Jesus was not created out of a desire to create a new song.  Jesus Loves Me became a reality out of despair.  The writers, Anna and Susan Warner were quite rare in 19^th Century.  They were financially secure and well educated in a time when women were seldom afforded the opportunity for advanced schooling.  While the girls were motherless since childhood they were extraordinarily close to their father who was a most prominent New York Attorney.  These girls had no worries and few responsibilities. 

Since there home was near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point they often spent their time teaching Sunday School for the cadets.  Through this experience they began to catch a glimpse of the commitment of these young men preparing to serve their country.

Then in 1857 a national economic depression wiped out the Warren’s investments. All the material possessions with the exception of the family home were lost. Mr. Warren never recovered financial or emotionally from the losses.  Not long after Mr. Warren died.

In order to provide for their back needs the Warren sister invested their considerable education in writing.  With a flair for fiction they wrote a novel, The Wide Wide Word, which became a best seller in a very short time.  They continued to write but none of their works would have such world-wide influence as did Anna’s writing of Say and Seal.  While the book itself would not go down in history as an America great its contribution has been long lasting. 

In Say and Seal there is a scene in which a kind gentleman, Mr. Linden, comes to the bedside of a dying child, Johnny Fax.  As the child looks up at Mr. Linden for some kind of strength and hope Mr. Linden pats the boy softly while reciting the words of a poem

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.

Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heaven's gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! loves me still,
When I'm very weak and ill;
From His shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me! He will stay,
Close beside me all the way;
He's prepared a home for me,
And some day His face I'll see.

These where the last words the boy would hear before his death and the most touching part of the hundreds of pages of the Say and Seal.

Warren’s writing about trials and death and the love of Jesus and the promise of eternal life were her testimony. And the writing was likely inspired by the looming Civil War.  She knew that the North and South would likely come to blows over state rights and slavery.  Many of the young men she had taught in Sunday School at West Point would face death or grave injuries. Therefore, the words of the poem Jesus Loves Me was as much for the readers as for the imaginary Johnny Fax.

Well, among the readers of Say and Seal was William B. Bradbury, one of the most influencial forces in American church music. On an evening in 1860 Bradbury sought to escape from his work with music and read a good book.  Yet when he read Say and Seal he was inspired to create music to accompany the words of the poem Jesus Loves Me. He immediately went to the piano and began composing the melody.  But sensing this was not enough he grabbed a pen and began writing a simple chorus.

With Warren’s permission he quickly published what would become an important children’s song.  But little did he know that this would be the most important song he ever brought to the American people.

During the Civil War Jesus Loves Me quickly spread across the battlefield. At night time when battles were few soldiers would often gather around a campfire and sing Jesus Loves Me.  The song could be heard echoing on both sides of the battle lines.  Meanwhile, children and adults where singing this new hymn in churches, in schools and community gatherings.  During the four year period of the Civil War Jesus Loves Me became America’s favorite lullaby.

And missionary began to spread the song abroad. It was often the first Christian song taught in Africa, Asia and South America. It has been claimed that Jesus Love Me has been responsible for more conversion that any song, Bible verse or hymn.

Out of one woman’s desire to help a nation deal with and suffering in a war to come Warren subtle way of sharing her faith became the greatest missionary tool of all time.