Katy Rose Collection: Art, Words
Friday Hymn: Safe in the Arms of Jesus
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
-1868-
Words by: Fanny J. Crosby
Music by: William H. Doane
Our family was talking about Fanny Crosby as we walked around old NYC streets last weekend, as she was a former resident too. Fanny was a prolific hymn and poetry writer, and was blind. It’s hard to imagine how she managed such a place without sight. Yet instead of focusing on her own lack, she lived the last 30 years of her life there in one of the poorest neighborhoods in order to serve people who were desperate and diseased. During that time, in the 1870s, she wrote the well-known “Blessed Assurance” and poignantly, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me.”
Another of her hymns was this touching one, which she said was for the bereaved, especially for mothers who had lost children. Fanny herself had lost her only baby years before and rarely spoke of it. These words were dear to her and many others. A pastor of a NYC church told her that it had given more “peace and satisfaction to mothers who have lost their children than any other hymn I have ever known.”
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels,
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.
Refrain:
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears. [Refrain]
Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages,
Ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience,
Wait till the night is o’er;
Wait till I see the morning
Break on the golden shore.
A Springtime Reminder
I once heard a seasoned mom say, “If the walls are closing in on you, take the walls away.”
Go outside!
A few notes on the outdoors and motherhood:
In the early years of motherhood with a house full of little boys, getting outside not only felt sanity-saving, but it ended up creating some of my best memories. And bonus, it formed nature lovers. This family rhythm is still going strong, whether it's the backyard, the neighborhood pond, or a daily walk.
(Additionally, all the time in nature directly guided my art and writing, even creating the theme for my next children’s book. Don’t ever believe that focused motherhood for a season has to detract from other dreams and goals in their right timing. I have found it has clarified my vision and focus all the more).
Each of our children spent hundreds of hours in the stroller walking the neighborhood in the early morning. We talked about the trees and birds and stray cats and clouds. Wow. Can you believe God is so creative? Isn’t this incredible? (Or strange!)
In addition to walks, there were visits to every park, hiking trail, and nature preserve I could locate. Still are.
When times were tight, it was free entertainment.
When we were working hard to minimize stuff inside, it was a stuff-free pastime.
Nowadays, there are inspiring and informative websites and podcasts like 1000 Hours Outside that will have you running outdoors before the end of the episode!
It was always my goal and preference not to allow screens to steal those precious bonding and learning moments in the strollers, aside from music and the occasional children’s audio book. We offer our kids a gift when we teach them to look around and notice.
Of utmost importance: Nature excursions with children will always result in found treasures! We’ve kept a few special dishes or trays permanently out in the house to display these wonders. After 15 years, our tiny exhibits are still showcasing new finds all the time.
St. Patrick's Day Round-Up
Right after the birth of our first son, a saint-of-a-friend carried a hot meal all the way from Queens to our apartment in East Harlem, NYC, on St. Patrick’s Day. It was corned beef with cabbage and Irish soda bread and that meal has lived on in family lore, told every year on this day. Now we always cook up an “Irish Feast” (or at least our version), pull out photos of Ireland travels, and have a retelling of the inspiring story of St. Patrick.
Should anyone be interested in beginning a St. Paddy’s day tradition, here’s what ours usually includes, best enjoyed with Irish music and friends:
Corned beef
Potatoes
Carrots
Cabbage
Irish soda bread
(There are recipes o’plenty online for all these)
Green additions for kids like grapes, cucumbers, and apples
Mint chocolate chip ice cream and brownie pie
