If you know anything about me, I apparently love an odd job that provides a little cash flow -- courier for a law office, waitress, concession stand operator, cafeteria cashier (yes, indeed), an online boutique owner, and a tour guide. None of which are related to either of the degrees which I have mounted or hidden in my house. Well, maybe the tour guide. I was in my element with that job. A married lady arriving freshly to the Hudson Valley with a ring on her finger needed a job -- I didn't need a job. I just wanted one. I like to stay busy. Here we were at the United States Military Academy, and I wanted to be telling the story. It has MANY stories by the way. And so, I dressed myself in the appropriate black and gold attire, climbed on the bus, and gave my 90 minute spill about all things West Point. Here's where it gets interesting. This is where this blog is about to turn.
There is a small island across the way from West Point called Constitution Island. There are several redoubts on this island used during the Revolutionary War. The Great Chain was connected from one side of the academy over to the island to stop the Brits. On this island decades later, there would be two sisters who would write the sweetest words of a hymn to ever leave our mouths. The Warner Sisters wrote "Jesus Loves Me" as a poem in 1860. These sisters were known for taking a boat across the Hudson, from their home on the island, to go and teach Sunday School to the cadets at USMA. Music was later added to their famous poem to become what we know and sing today:
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—loves me still,
Though 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.
Then his little child will take,
Up to heaven for his dear sake.
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong,—
They are weak, but he is strong.
Jesus loves me—loves me still,
Though 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.
Then his little child will take,
Up to heaven for his dear sake.
We all know this beloved children's hymn. If you're like me, you can be found singing it to your little ones, especially on the occasion of nap time. We sing many songs during the day. As of late our VBS song, "Concrete and Cranes" is on top. Yet, I want Bayley to go off to dreamland with this song at the forefront of her mind. Does it work? I don't know. However, I want her to hear these truths before she closes her eyes:
Jesus loves me.
I know He loves me because the Bible says it to be so.
Therefore, the Bible must be true.
Therefore, the Bible is true.
We belong to Him.
We can be weak.
He will be strong for us.
Oh, how much we would benefit from this simple lyrics that we believe to be reserved only for children!
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