North Walsham Methodist Church

Grammar School Road,  North Walsham,   Norfolk,   NR28 9JH

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
 

One of the things that many church congregations would like is a church with plenty of children and young people.  Sadly many children and young people today say that church is too boring and irrelevant to their lives.  I too might share their view if I were their age.

I cannot in all honesty condemn them for preferring a game of football on a Sunday morning to coming to church.  After all what does church offer them, except perhaps to think or even say, “When I was your age.....”

But what life they bring to the church family; what laughter and fun they inject into the place.  They seem to be always happy, full of excitement, and they’re nearly always good.  They are ready to help and take part, and they do enjoy singing.

As a child I remember the hymn, which is perhaps most closely associated with children; ‘Jesus Loves Me’.  Susan and Ann Warner wrote it in 1859. It first appeared as a poem in the Warner Girls Novel.  
In the story two characters, Faith Derrick and John Endecott Linden are greatly concerned for a sick little boy by the name of Johnny Fax.  His condition had grown steadily worse and had become critical, in his misery little Johnny asks Mr Linden to take him up into his arms.  Mr Linden does so and picking up the feverish boy, walks slowly back and forth across the room trying to console him. Suddenly Johnny pleads, “Sing”   As Faith listens she hears John Linden sing a beautiful song which neither she nor Johnny knew.

Jesus loves me! this I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong.

 

With this song he tried to comfort the final moments of little Johnny Fax. Indeed a few hours later he went to be with the one who loved him so much.

The lines of the poem came to the attention of the famous composer, William Bradbury, and in 1861 he set them to music and added the chorus:

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

In Proverbs we read the words:

“I LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE ME;

WHOEVER LOOKS FOR ME CAN FIND ME.”

Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 17

How do we love God? How do we express our love for him who gave so much for us? I’m reminded of the poem by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old grief’s, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints; --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

We would do well to ask that question of ourselves in relation to God. How do we love Him? And how do we count his ways as individuals and as a church?

With my love to you all.

    Pat