Jesus Leads His Little Ones

At the end of one of my children’s choirs’ performances, one of the little boys tripped coming down the podium stairs. He bounced right back up, dusted himself off, and headed back to his parents to the bemused laughter of the congregation. That incident got me thinking that it would be fun to write a bouncy tune for a new song for the choir. It was during this period that my piano teacher, who was teaching me certain principles of composition, challenged me to write a melody that included a change of tone. So, I crafted a cheerful tune—inspired by that “trip down the podium stairs”—that included a bridge, or change of pace, and set it to the words of “Jesus Loves Me.” My children’s choir enthusiastically sang that new version of “Jesus Loves Me” several times over the years.

My husband and I both felt, however, that this bright and bubbly tune deserved lyrics of its own. He ended up writing the words at one of our favorite vacation spots, the garden patio of a bed-and-breakfast in Ashland, Oregon (home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival), that we had visited with our friends for over 25 years. The result is “Jesus Leads His Little Ones.” We hope that many children’s choirs will enjoy singing this happy tune to the glory of the One who does indeed lead His little ones.

Lyrics

VERSE 1
Jesus leads His little ones
As we play and skip and run.
Cross the creek and o’er the log;
Laughing, jumping with our dog
(our happy, bouncing dog – woof, woof, woof).

Yes, oh yes, my Jesus leads his little ones.
Hop the streams and climb the trees until the sun is done.
He is with me where I go,
Walking fast or running slow;
He is with me what I do and where I go.

VERSE 2
Jesus leads his little ones,
Even when we’re having fun.
When I play the violin,
Plucking, strumming with a grin
(a really, silly, grin — ha, ha, ha!)

Yes, oh yes, my Jesus leads his little ones.
Take a swim, and run in gym,
and laugh with everyone.
He is with me what I do,
At my school or at the zoo.
He is with me where I go and what I do.

BRIDGE
Jesus leads me by his Light;
Tells me what is wrong and right.
Holds me in his tender care,
For I know he’s always there.

VERSE 3
Yes, oh yes, my Jesus leads his little ones.
Chase the breeze and race the bees
and laugh with everyone.
He is with me what I do.
Yes, I know that this is true.
He is with me where I go and what I do.

Click below for your free download of the sheet music.