Artists

Song Stories - “I’m So Glad Jesus Loves Me”

As I was searching for material for our last recording, “So Glad”, I borrowed my mom’s song - notebook. It is a book she keeps of new original song lyrics and ideas. I happened upon a loose sheet - I read the words,

A sacrifice was needed.
Who would die for me?
Who would pay the awful cost to free me from my sin?
When Jesus went to Calvary, He said, “I will. Be thou clean.”
I’m so glad that Jesus Loves me

I’m so glad Jesus loves me
The Pure and Holy loves a sinner like me
He forgave me, and He made me a child of the King!
I’m so glad that Jesus loves me.

My sin was the reason for the cross my Savior bore.
The shame of my iniquity became His crown of thorns.
Through the blood He shed on Calvary, I’m redeemed, I’m redeemed!
I’m so glad that Jesus loves me.

I began to hum the tune to one of the first songs I learned to sing as a child, “Jesus loves me this I know....” This was the inspiration for the music Bobby and I added to Mom’s lyrics. Later that week, I sang the song for Mom. She was very surprised. She asked where I’d found the words. She hadn’t intended it for a song. She was just writing her thoughts to God. Well, I think He liked it and wanted to share the thought with others.

That’s why He let me find it!

Mom often shares her feelings about God’s love. Her father was a very proud and quiet man. He didn’t express his emotions well. He never once told her that he loved her, nor gave her any visible sign of affection. She grew up in church, but the idea she had of the Heavenly Father was that of great stern being looking down on people, ready to execute harsh punishment for the least mistake. It was as an adult that she learned of our Father’s wonderful love and mercy. She is still amazed at the marvelous love of God. I’m almost jealous of her relationship with God. Her passion for Him seems always fresh and real.

I’m glad my mom taught me about our Savior’s love. As a little girl, I never doubted my Heavenly Father’s love for me. I loved Him because He first loved me. It was that simple. There was no thought of being rejected, no thought of earning His grace. As an adult, with all my faults and failures, time and time again I find myself back on my face. I get disgusted with myself, and begin to wonder how God can still love me. I want to be perfect like He is. I want to please Him in every way, but I find myself falling so short! How could he still love me?

The simple words of this song- bring me back to the childlike faith. Jesus loves me! What a thrilling thought! I turn my eyes up to Him, forget about myself, and bask in the warmth of His love!