Two weeks before Addie was born, as I finished singing the Sacrament hymn at church, a thought popped into my head: "If you were to write a sacrament hymn, what would you sing about?" The first line came to me that day: "A crown of thorns upon Thy head".
Over the next 4-1/2 months as I drove to and from the hospital to attend to my critical care baby, I kept working at finding the answer to that question. Singing and composing in the car or on TRAX (I only sang in my head on the train) made the commute very short! Best of all, by focusing on the Savior and transforming my testimony into words, my brain enjoyed a wonderful distraction from worry, anxiety, and stress. Truly I can testify that focusing on Christ carried me through that tough time (and continues to do so), blessed me with perspective, and made my burden very light. I look back now and feel so grateful for the inspired prompting that asked me just at the right moment, "What would you sing about?"
So, in commemoration of His merciful and redemptive Atonement and Resurrection, I share with you my witness and testimony of The One True King through this offering of song lyrics and images from churchofjesuschrist.org! Happy Easter!
A Crown of Thorns
Verse 1
A crown of thorns upon Thy head,
A borrowed robe 'cross Thy shoulders spread,
Thy scepter a reed of grief, of scorn--
From worlds of light to a darkened earth,
From King of Kings to a peasant birth--
Though angels rang out Thy heralds on high,
Mankind slept as their Deliverer drew nigh.
(Chorus)
But I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now.
Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.
I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.
I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.
Verse 2
Five thousand fed with a few loaves of bread.
Raising the lifeless from the dead,
A birdsong carried to the deaf child's ear--
Both wisdom and light to the blind appear.
Thou, Creator of Worlds, bowed to our Father's will.
In agony, Thy blood dripped like rain,
W
And in sweetest mercy, Thou purged man's stain.
(Chorus)
And I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now.
Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.
I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.
I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.
Verse 3
Thy hands outstretched upon a tree,
Lifted up for all men to see
And hear Thy voice, "Come unto me--
That I, Thy King, may ransom thee."
On a springtime morn, a stone rolled away.
Thou, Prince of Peace stepped forth from the grave.
Conqueror of death and hell alone,
Now ascending Thy glorious throne.
(Chorus)
And I worshiped Thee then; I worship Thee now.
Before Thy Grace, I humbly bow.
I pledge my heart to sing Thy praise.
I will build up Thy kingdom all my days.
