My Jesus, I love thee

In this season of Easter, this season of remembering, we search for words of thanksgiving.

Gratitude for the blood, the cross, the suffering.

Gratitude for the plan, the adoption, the freedom.

It is just too overwhelming, trying to fit this ocean-sized love into a cup-sized heart.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

These beautiful words were penned by William Ralph Featherston (1846-1873) in 1862.
The song was written when he was sixteen, soon after his conversion. Little is known of Featherston, and we have no other songs that were written by him. He died when he was only 26 years old.

One hundred and fifty years later, this song speaks what is in my heart, words too rich, too eloquent for me to create.

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations. Psalm 79:13

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