Jane Evelyn Hussy (1874-1958) was an invalid from rheumatism who began writing verse as a child. The first were published when she was thirteen. At sixteen she began to write stories, articles and designs for crochet needlework for magazines.
She was born in rural New Hampshire where she spent much of her life. For many years, she was the primary caregiver for an invalid sister, despite dealing with her own crippling arthritis.
Though Jennie was born into a Quaker family that went back many generations, she chose to identify with the Baptists as an adult. Since Quakers did not practice water baptism, Jennie asked to be baptized at First Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire. She told the pastor, "I've spent much of my life hidden away in the country, and I'd like to have the opportunity, before God takes me home, to tell everybody, 'I love Jesus.'"1
Jennie had been a poet since her youth, and she used this gift to beautifully declare her love for Jesus. The hymn "Lead Me to Calvary" is said to have been born out of Jennie's painful battle with arthritis. She prayed the words of her hymn: "May I be willing, Lord, to bear, Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me."
Other verses followed, and Jennie's hymn would later appear in over 90 hymnals. Jennie continued to show her love for the Lord in poetry, and by the end of her life in 1958, she had penned about 150 hymns.
In this well- known hymn the first verse focuses upon Jesus' thorn-crowned brow as He hung on Calvary. The second verse focuses upon the burial of Jesus following His death. Verse three focuses upon the resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb which in essence validates His death on Calvary. The fourth verse focuses upon the application of what Jesus means to us because of His death on Calvary. Knowing what she was going through physically with her disease and the burden of caring for her sister, the fourth verse takes on a special meaning.
May we never forget what Jesus has done for us. May we crown Him King of our life. And may we never forget His love for us.
She was born in rural New Hampshire where she spent much of her life. For many years, she was the primary caregiver for an invalid sister, despite dealing with her own crippling arthritis.
Though Jennie was born into a Quaker family that went back many generations, she chose to identify with the Baptists as an adult. Since Quakers did not practice water baptism, Jennie asked to be baptized at First Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire. She told the pastor, "I've spent much of my life hidden away in the country, and I'd like to have the opportunity, before God takes me home, to tell everybody, 'I love Jesus.'"1
Jennie had been a poet since her youth, and she used this gift to beautifully declare her love for Jesus. The hymn "Lead Me to Calvary" is said to have been born out of Jennie's painful battle with arthritis. She prayed the words of her hymn: "May I be willing, Lord, to bear, Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me."
Other verses followed, and Jennie's hymn would later appear in over 90 hymnals. Jennie continued to show her love for the Lord in poetry, and by the end of her life in 1958, she had penned about 150 hymns.
In this well- known hymn the first verse focuses upon Jesus' thorn-crowned brow as He hung on Calvary. The second verse focuses upon the burial of Jesus following His death. Verse three focuses upon the resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb which in essence validates His death on Calvary. The fourth verse focuses upon the application of what Jesus means to us because of His death on Calvary. Knowing what she was going through physically with her disease and the burden of caring for her sister, the fourth verse takes on a special meaning.
May we never forget what Jesus has done for us. May we crown Him King of our life. And may we never forget His love for us.
1 King of my life I crown Thee now-
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
Refrain:
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
2 Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
3 Let me like Mary, thru the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb-
Lead me to Calvary.
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
4 May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share-
Thou hast borne all for me.
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
Listen to it here. CALVARY
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