Connie Beemer
Chaplain at EverTrue Brooking Park | St. Louis, Missouri
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”– Proverbs 22:6
The teen was brought into St. Louis Children’s Hospital, fighting and clawing at the staff, physically pushing against the care that she desperately needed. My chaplain friend was trying to provide prayer or something soothing to help the staff be able to get an IV in, but nothing was working. Suddenly, she remembered the children’s Sunday school song that she had learned and started singing “Jesus Loves Me” to the teen. Immediately, the teen stopped fighting, calmed and sang along with her. For the next two hours, we all took turns singing the song with her to calm her, until she was able to go to sleep.
I wasn’t surprised that the song “Jesus Loves Me” had such a powerful effect. It is one of the most requested spiritual songs in our hospital, and one that is etched onto the hearts of children and adults alike. Most remember it from their earliest days of being in church, or as the song sung over them by their mothers. During difficult moments where family is gathered for the last moments with their child, or for prayers before difficult procedures, the families sing “Jesus Loves Me” together with the chaplains. Its words touch hearts and minds, giving peace, like no other songs that are requested.
Now, as I work with seniors at the other end of the age spectrum in facilities as their chaplain, they also love to hear “Jesus Loves Me” in our services and remember the loving faith being passed on through the words by their own families so many years ago. Although “Jesus Loves Me” is not in our prayer books or liturgical traditions, the power of its simple prose remains within the lives of those professing Christ who seek His peace in their day.
Prayer
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.