(Jesus said) “Anyone who comes to me I will never turn away.”John 6:37b REB

One of my favorite drives is along the Mississippi river, on my way to visit family, where I once served a church. Most often, I will see an eagle or two. In winter, eagles cluster near a point where the Chippewa River flows into the Mississippi River. I’ve been awed at times,  by the sight of fifteen to twenty bald eagles, circling overhead.

Further south,  there is the little town of Minneiska. If you happen to glance up the hill just at the right time, you’ll notice the sign for a “ Bar & Grill.”  A man I’ll call Harry, had owned the place for 35 years before he sold it. Still it retained his  nick name.

When he died, I was asked to preside at Harry’s funeral. A lot of years had passed since he had worshiped at our church or any church. So, I was quite surprised to learn that every night, as he cleaned up the bar, he whistled,  sang or hummed,  *“Jesus Loves Me.” Sometimes, his children would mock him a bit. They told me he, would smile a little, and just keep on with his song.

I got to thinking about Harry  one day on my drive. He wasn’t a faithful church member, missing out on the community of faith, love and support that could have been his. Still, he knew that Jesus loved him. His faith was childlike in that hope. I have no idea who brought Harry to Sunday School. Was it his mom and dad . . .  a grandparent, aunt or uncle? Maybe, a kind neighbor gave him a ride.  Whoever it was,  at some moment in time, Harry came to know that Jesus loved him. The song “Jesus Loves Me” stuck in his mind. He never lost the message.

There are in our lives children who need to know that Jesus loves them . . . Children who need to grow in that love . . . Children who need to be grounded in the deep love of God revealed in Jesus. There just might be a child in your life, who needs to hear the good news of Jesus’ love.

At Harry’s funeral, his family insisted that we sing “Jesus Loves Me.” They thought that he would appreciate sharing the good news with his friends.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14

*Traditional Children’s Lyrics

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 love me, this I know.
As He loved so long ago.
Taking children on his knee.
Saying, “Let them come to me.”

Jesus loves me still today,
walking with me on the way,
wanting as a friend to give
light and love to all who live.

Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
                Adapted from a poem by  Anna Bartlett Warner