Today’s post was written by Paul.
About a year ago, Granny told me about a song that she really liked. She sang the first verse and chorus for me and suggested that we sing it together. She said she thought it was one of the prettiest hymns. I don’t think she stated where she learned the song. I suspect it may have been at Shady Grove Church, where she attended as a child.
She kept three hymnals in her living room. She asked me to bring them to her chair, and she looked through them till she found the hymn. Unfortunately, we never got around to singing the song together, and it slipped my mind.
Before Granny passed, she told Tipper that she wanted long-time family friend and pastor Paul Ray Morgan to sing at her funeral, and she specified that he should sing “Hand in Hand with Jesus.”
After Granny passed, Tipper, Steve, and I met with the director of the funeral home to plan her service. It was noted that at least two more songs were needed. It was then that I remembered Granny telling me about the song, but all I could remember was that it was about Jesus.
I looked through the index in each of the hymnals in her house, checking each title that began with “Jesus.” I knew that none of those songs were the song that she told me about that day. I decided to check each page in the hymnals, and I started with the one that I thought seemed to contain mostly traditional hymns. When I reached page 103 of that hymnal, there was the song.
I crossed checked it by going to YouTube to listen. The top result had a red line under it, indicating that I had watched the video before in the past. Then I knew I had the right song, and hearing the song brought even further confirmation.
There are several beautiful renditions on YouTube. You can see my two favorites here and here.
One is by Kaleb Brasee. I reached out to him through email and asked if he would mind if I used his piano playing in my video, but I never heard back from him. I encourage any Acorn who loves hymns played beautifully on piano to visit his channel.
I called Paul Ray and asked him if he knew the song. To my surprise, he didn’t. I sang the first verse and chorus for him, but he said he had never heard it. I told him no worries, and we decided on “It is Well with My Soul” to replace it and to end the service with “Amazing Grace.” However, we were surprised at the service when Paul Ray and the choir sang “More About Jesus” as the family walked in and again as we walked out.
It turned out that the piano player and another singer in the church knew the song, and they taught it to the rest of the choir and to Paul Ray. How they found the time to do that, I don’t know, but I appreciate it.
Like most great hymns, this song has an interesting and inspirational background. Here’s some information from Google.
“More About Jesus” is a beloved 1887 hymn written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920), a Philadelphia schoolteacher, while she was convalescing from a severe spinal injury. Despite being incapacitated and in pain, Hewitt wrote the lyrics as a passionate expression of her desire to grow in her knowledge and love of Christ, turning her suffering into a message of faith. Eliza E. Hewitt penned many hymns after a student’s action caused a serious, long-term spinal injury. The tune was composed by John R. Sweney in 1887. The hymn was first published in Glad Hallelujahs in 1887, edited by Sweney and William J. Kirkpatrick. The lyrics, heavily emphasizing “More” (used 34 times), were born out of her study of Scripture during her recovery. It is often associated with the desire to know Christ better, similar to Philippians 3:10.
It was potentially inspired by, or written as a complement to, Fanny Crosby’s “More like Jesus would I be,” which was published 20 years earlier. Hewitt continued her ministry, particularly with Sunday School children, even though her injuries prevented her from returning to public school teaching. The hymn remains a classic in Christian music, often sung as a personal dedication to spiritual growth.
Hymnary.org also has some info about the author and a picture of her. Because the writer was placed in charge of the primary department of her church, I’m guessing that she composed this song for children, to encourage them to learn as much as they could about Jesus. For some reason, I’ve always been drawn to songs that have a childlike simplicity, and this is a great example.
I sang this song fairly well, I think, but I failed to use the right notes/melody at the start of each chorus. The two “mores” should be sung as two different notes, the first one being higher. I mistakenly sang them the same.
The more we learn about Jesus, the more we love Him.
Hope you enjoyed the song!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
Hi Paul, you did a wonderful job with the song. We use to sing it in church.
Paul, You Did A Great Job On This Song. We All Need To Learn More About Jesus. Also Another Song My 95 Year Old Aunt Henrietta Used To Sing Oh! How I Love Jesus.
Beautiful. Paul!
Beautiful!
So Beautiful! So perfect for Granny !
Thank you so much for sharing that ❤️
What a kind and thoughtful gift from the choir, I’m sure it blessed Granny’s family so much. I am very familiar with the hymn More About Jesus and it was sung often in our Baptist church where I grew up.
loved the song and knew it immediately. Sang it for years! Paul, you sang it beautifully!
Paul!! You sang it beautifully. Just like I remember my mama singing it! Granny is with Jesus now, and finding out More about him everyday! God bless and keep you and your family!!
I enjoyed this beautiful song and learning the history of it. How special that they surprised you with it for Granny’s funeral. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, Paul.
I don’t know where I learned this song but knew immediately when one of you mentioned it.
It is so beautiful and meaningful. Thank you. God bless you all at this time.
Beautiful ❤️
Paul, you sang this song beautifully, with love in every note. Your mom was fortunate to have a loving, caring son like you to be with her.
I grew up singing this hymn acappella in tge church of Christ!
I had sung “More About Jesus” and other hymns since childhood, up until the last eight or so years. At our church we don’t sing any of the old hymns anymore, except in our senior Sunday school classes–they’re called “Life Groups” now. In church we sing fragments of familiar hymns in praise-song medleys. The words are projected on a big screen. Where did all those old hymn books go?
A beautiful song & you sang it beautifully, Paul. You are so talented & I know Granny was so proud of you. My prayers continue for you & the entire family as you grieve the loss of Granny & navigate through this heartbreaking time.
When just 2-3 words or one line comes to mind, I can google them and usually find the song or poem.
I so enjoyed Paul singing this hymn and what a special gift for your church musicians to do for your family and Granny at her service. I know it was so meaningful to your family. Blessings to all of you.
Thank you for sharing with us. I will continue to pray for you. God bless your days ahead.
Thank you Paul for another beautiful hymn. I loved hearing Granny’s voice at the beginning. God bless and keep you and your family during this time of grief.
A lovely oldie I remember from days long past – and you played and sang it well Paul. Blessings to you and all those in Wilson Holler.
Yes❤️grew up singing this. Thank you for the memory.
TY for this beautiful song. It was a blessing for the church to have sung it for the family. I googled the Author of the poem turned lyrics, Eliza Edmonds Hewitt, and read her biography. TY for all of this post today.
Granny certainly could pick the most beautiful hymns. Thank you so much Paul for sharing it. I thought you did a wonderful job. Prayers continue for you and all of the family.
Beautiful song. I recall singing this hymn in church in the 1960s
Eliza E. Hewitt also wrote a song I’ve heard often, “When We All Get to Heaven”. I remember hearing Alan Jackson sing it.
It was so wonderful for your choir to learn the song for Granny and all her family. She and many others were looking down and singing along from heaven.
This was a beautiful tribute to Granny this morning. As I closed my eyes listening to the song I could see & hear Granny sitting beside you singing along with you. She touched so many people all over the world & spread her love for Jesus to them. She will never be forgotten.
This was a beautiful tribute to Granny this morning. As I closed my eyes listening to the song I could see & hear Granny sitting beside you singing along with you. She touched so many people all over the world & spread her love for Jesus to them. She will never be forgotten.
I was anxious to find this song after I watched Tipper’s video where she mentioned that Granny liked this song. As soon as I heard it I recognized it! I know we sang this song many times at my
Baptist church as I was growing up. It certainly is a beautiful hymn! My mother-in-love will be
87 on April 1st. She has been a church organist for many years and still is.
I really should ask her what songs she would like for her service. I’m sure just like me,
there are so many hymns she loves it may be difficult to choose……..
I love this song. It’s one of my faves. I know Granny is smiling each time you sing it. She will be so greatly missed. She was such a precious lady. ♥️
We sang this hymn in the church I grew up in. In my mind’s ear, I hear Mama singing it.
Paul, I grew up in a Methodist Church in Burke County NC. We sang this song often. On days when I’m struggling with life this song will come to mind. I begin singing to myself and it always lifts my spirits. I know you and your family are so grateful that Paul Ray and the pianist and the choir listened to the Lord’s voice and learned and performed this special song for Granny’s funeral. Granny left everyone a beautiful gift. A reminder of what was most important to her. I truly enjoyed hearing your version of the song. Thank you so much.
I have lived in Burke County, NC for the past 49 years. What is the name of you church?
Like Tricia, I grew up singing that hymn in my little Baptist church. Hymns were my favorite part of going to church. When we moved there when I was six, the pastor was a kind and gentle man who exuded God’s love. His wife was my Sunday school teacher. She taught us Psalm 56:3: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” which I remember to this day. A pastor who came later was a hellfire and damnation preacher. I hated being yelled at and shouted at from the pulpit; heard enough of that from my dad at home. I’m a Quaker now where worshipful silence and the occasional thoughtful message is a balm to my soul.
Debra, I can relate to what you wrote. I remember long, loud sermons delivered by hyperventilating evangelists who in revival services would roast us young people over hell like a weenie. I have never had a pastor who did that, for which I am thankful.
What a great song to start Sunday with—took me back to my childhood and my uncle (song leader) leading the congregation with this song and many other old old hymns…it has always been a favorite of mine, I too love its simplicity–coming as a little child saying please tell me more about Jesus because that is all that really matters and the more I can learn or can remind myself about Him the more content my soul and the more I long to be with Him—the older and closer I get to seeing Him I need these words and words like them to keep me from being afraid of dying (honestly dying is scary to some, in spite of being saved)
You did a great job with the song Paul, thank you for putting it on here today—in my head I could hear Granny singing along. Have a blessed Lord’s day
Gaylia, I think for many it’s not so much death itself that’s scary, but the possible helplessness and suffering that might come beforehand.
I am “bad to” think of a snatch of song and go searching all the books at church, starting with 5 and then going through the odd ‘extra’ books, about 3 of those. Sometimes I never do find the one I’m looking for, which makes me wonder…. There are times I have no idea when, where or even if ever I heard it. There are so many hymn stories that have troubles and trials in their history, evidence that “he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world” (if correctly recalled). Wonderful that they sang that song for Granny. Truly ‘grace notes’ not only from the Lord but from each of them also. And just to think, Granny had had that longing fulfilled already by receiving “more” than we can have in this world. What a blessing all around! I know a preacher, a good friend, who once preached “the Lord will never wound us except he also heals us.” Hope all you “acorns” have a blessed day. BP&A is a good starting place.
Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world? ♫
Thank you Paul for your posting. Being a history major and a lover of music of any kind I truly enjoy your postings detailing the background and reason for the song. While in college (1963-1967) I took a music appreciation course on classical music and I was hooked. I’ve been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to have traveled and seen so many different music greats from the Kingston Trio to Chubby Checker to Johnny Mathis to probably the most honored Hawaiian singer of all time Brother Iz. While living in Hawaii I attended a back yard luau where Is showed up and I was blessed to have song with him. Weighting over 400 pounds he had the voice of an angel. We sat and talked for a while and as it got late he wanted to go home so he asked me to drive him. On the drive Iz talked of his love of family, music, his beloved Hawaii nei, and most importantly his Akua’s (God). Every song he sang he could feel his love if Jesus. When I left Hawaii to move to Florida I emailed him and thanked him for what he had given me. He said we shared the same aloha (love) of God and family and that he thought I had Hawaiian blood flowing through my heart. He blessed my upcoming marriage to Diane ( married 29 years and counting). Several years later Brother Iz died and was given a state funeral; only entertainer to have his ashes in the state capital hall where the service was held. He was honored with a state funeral. His music became known nationally when his version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful Life” was used in many commercials. True music comes from the love that lives within each of us that God placed there. I love watching and listening to you play on YouTube. I’ve learned so much. God bless you and your entire family.
I grew up in a Baptist church in Ohio singing “More About Jesus.” It’s also one of the first hymns I learned to play on the piano. Paul, you did a great job singing the song. You’re right, the more we learn about Jesus the more we love Him.
Good morning Paul, I never heard the song before, but I really enjoyed it, you did a fine job, God bless you brother Paul, God bless the family