Jesus Loves Me

Todays video was one of my earlier videos I made. Jesus Loves Me is a Christian hymn set to words by Anna Bartlett Warner. The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of a novel called Say and Seal, written by Susan Warner and published in 1860. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder  Bradbury who found the text of "Jesus Loves Me" in this book, in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying child. Along with his tune, Bradbury added his own chorus "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me..." After publication the song became one of the most popular Christian hymns in churches around the world. Different verses, other than the first, often are substituted. The verse about illness is usually omitted, to make the hymn less disturbing to children.

I used to teach a 4th/5th grade SS class, most of my students are grown up- I hope they never forget how much Jesus Loves them and I hope they never forget this poem that I would read to them at least once a year;

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

You're special. In all the world there's nobody like you. Since the beginning of time there has never been another person like you. Nobody has your smile, nobody has your eyes, your nose, your hair, your hands, your voice. You're special. No one can be found who has your handwriting. Nobody anywhere has your taste for food, music, or art. No one sees things just like you do. In all of time there's been no one who laughs like you, no one who cries like you, and what makes you laugh will never produce identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever. you're the only one in all creation who has your set of abilities. Oh, there will always be someone who is better at one of the things you are good at, but no one in all the universe can reach the quality of your combination of talents, ideas, abilities, and feelings. Like a room full of musical instruments, some may excel  alone, but no one can match the symphony sound when all are played together. you're a symphony. Through all eternity, no one will ever look, talk, walk, think, or do like you do. You're special...you're rare. And in all rarity there is great value. Because of your great value you need not attempt to imitate others.. you will accept, yes celebrate your differences. You're special and you're beginning to realize it's no accident that you're special. You're beginning to see that God made you special for a purpose. He must have a job for you that no one else can do as well as you. Of out of the Billions of applicants, only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes. That one is you, because ... you're special.