Jesus Loves Me

This was originally a devotional I wrote for St. Martin's Daily Word. The response was overwhelming, so I wanted to share it on this platform as well.

Our nighttime routine with our daughter is pretty standard. Bath, brush teeth, read a few books, and then go to bed. It is a liturgy of sorts, a rhythm to daily life. And praise the Lord, she doesn’t fight against it. She thrives within the routine and hence why she’s a good Episcopalian.

In the moment between reading books and laying her to bed, I always sing to her “Jesus Loves Me” in our rocking chair. It’s a routine that I have found deeply meaningful. The reason I started singing that well-worn song was so that it would linger in her mind as she went to sleep. It was to be a little catechesis—a little teaching moment—that may lay the groundwork for her faith in the years ahead. As her father, who happens to be a priest, I earnestly want to share my faith with her.

But just the other day I noticed how much of an effect this song has made on me since starting this routine with her. Those words have been shaping me all along, though the intent was that it would shape her. As I’ve laid her down in bed, I walk away with a deeper sense of gratitude for God and the life he has given to me. I do believe Jesus loves me in a profound way.

How simple it is. A children’s song has enhanced my faith as I’ve sung it daily to my daughter. And that is the nature of prayer and the reason to keep doing it, even when the effects are not evident. The point isn’t to change God‘s mind but to transform our own. It’s in the prayers that span months and years that we are shaped in the asking. This is done on an individual level but also on a collective one. We pray with families, friends, and as a church community. Together we are shaped by the prayers we pray together.

Just a few nights ago as I started singing the hymn, my daughter started singing it with me, word for word. It’s not just my song anymore but hers.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash