Elaine’s CHRISTmas Perspective at 98 & “New” Christmas Song
I have a 98-year-old friend who taught school and penmanship for over 30 years and had the finest penmanship herself, until recently. In her frailty, her words are mere chicken scratches, so she seldom writes. I asked her to jot down her perspective of CHRISTmas. She feebly wrote:
To see Jesus in all His glory and majesty.
Jesus who is willing to forgive and forget.
The One who loves me without spot or blemish.
The One who cares for me and loves me anyway.
To see Jesus – my Savior and Lord.
The One who is waiting to receive me into His glorious Kingdom.
Jesus is all the world to me; my hope, my joy, my all.
This last line reminded me of a verse to a hymn. I thought what a great “new” CHRISTmas hymn this would be to sing around the CHRISTmas tree or the manger scene this year.
Jesus Is All the World to Me
By Will L Thompson, 1904
- Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He’s my Friend. - Jesus is all the world to me,
My Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and
He gives them o’er and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He’s my Friend. - Jesus is all the world to me,
And true to Him I’ll be;
Oh, how could I this Friend deny,
When He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right,
He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night,
He’s my Friend. - Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when
Life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He’s my Friend.
