“Jesus loves me this I know. For the bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.” – Anna Bartlet Warner
In honor of the 250th birthday of our nation, I recently did a deep dive into the history of hymns written in the USA over that time period. It has been interesting to discover that many of them were written by women and African Americans. More recently Latin American, African, and Asian hymn writers have found their way into our Lutheran hymnals. In other words, the hymns we sing reflect the diversity of Christianity here in the USA.
Regardless of their background, many hymns were written as prayers during very difficult times either for our society or the individual who wrote them. Some of the greatest hymns, like “When Peace Like a River” and “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” were written by men who lost their families in tragic circumstances. Others, like “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Still, Still With Thee,” were written by abolitionists before and during the Civil War.
The history of “Jesus Loves Me” is as sweet as you might imagine. Anna Bartlet Warner and her sister, Susan Warner, were prolific writers, gardeners, and even game designers. They were dedicated Christians and bible teachers to the cadets of the West Point Military Academy in New York. In 1860, Susan wrote the book, “Say and Seal.” For the book, Anna wrote the poem, “Jesus Loves Me” for a scene in which someone is giving comfort to a dying child. In the real world, the song has been a comfort to many people of all ages.
The history of American hymns is a history of the church in the USA. We are varied in our theology and experiences and style, but every single one of us has had times of trouble, doubts, and joy. Hymns are a reflection of all that life throws at us. They are also a reminder of things like God’s grace, love, and care.
As we look at the world around us, we may not always see how we are the United States of America. Divisions are often more apparent than connections, but that is where church can come in. We are one of the last places that are intergenerational, but that is definitely my favorite part of being in church. Getting to regularly interact with both little ones and O.W.L.s (Older Wiser Lutherans) is a huge gift!
We may not always be able to find common ground in life or politics, but as Christians, we can all agree that “Jesus loves…” me, you, us, and even them over there “for the bible tells me so.”
