For those of you who have been following Life Lived Beautifully’s Instagram or Facebook page, you’ve seen that I use the saying quite a bit. The words “give me Jesus” are more than just a saying. To say “you can have all this world, but give me Jesus” is to let go of all earthly comforts and things and take hold of what truly matters, Christ. “Give me Jesus” is my life theme. It is my song I sing to the Lord each morning and the cry of my heart each night.
The words are not only the motto of my life, but they hold deep meaning to my family.

It all began years ago with my Pawpaw, Pastor K. Alvin Pitt. Pawpaw was no ordinary pastor. His love for Jesus ran deep and His fervor spilled over to everyone around him. If you lived near his house, you would have seen him walking every morning in the wee hours praying and praising God. You would have also received a loaf of his amazing homemade bread! I can almost smell it now!

Pawpaw was a man after God’s own heart. His life and ministry reached people he never could have dreamed of reaching. His life’s theme was “give me Jesus.” Later in life he developed Alzheimer’s and began to lose his short-term memory. But no disease could ever wipe away his love for the Lord. As a matter of fact, when we would push him around the nursing home he would have his Bible in His hands and be muttering under his breath, “Lord, take me home.” When he had no other words to say, He simply cried “Lord.”

I’ll never forget when he was in hospice. His heart was strong that he hung onto life here while being on the brink of eternity. He was more than ready to go home to the Father and to his precious Mawmaw. My sister and I stayed the night with him to watch over him. Around 3:30 in the morning my sister woke up from her sleep and felt the Spirit tell her Pawpaw was about to go be with Jesus. We called all of the family and everyone rushed to the facility where he was.

As he breathed in and out heavily, we began to sing hymns over him. We sung his favorites, the melodies of tried and true warriors of Christ. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see”…”Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee”…”I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord…” As we sung and gripped his frail hands, the presence of God filled the room.

And then we sang that song. The very song that would usher Pawpaw through the gates of Heaven into eternity. I have no doubt that Jesus was beckoning him as we serenaded him with his life song. It was 4:30 AM on a Sunday. The very hour Pawpaw would have been up to study the Word and pray.

In the morning, when I rise, In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus.

When I am alone, when I am alone, when I am alone, Give me Jesus.

Breathing deeply, he yielded his spirit as we sang these final words:

When I come to die, when I come to die, when I come to die, Give me Jesus.

There could have been no greater chorus to sing over Pawpaw as Jesus welcomed him with open arms. His story was a life well-lived for the glory of God. Even in his dying, Jesus was lifted high.

That is why I create so much artwork with “Give me Jesus” on it. That is why pray God writes this on my heart everyday. Earthly possessions will fade away. Life will someday end. But Jesus will always be the same. Eternity is forever. Life here is short. I want to live with glimpses of eternity in my life. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.

Today through Good Friday, receive 20% off of your order in the Life Lived Beautifully shop using the coupon code HEISRISEN! There you can purchase your own “Give me Jesus” artwork to hang on the walls of your home. There are more products coming soon and I cannot wait to share them with you!

Love,

Gretchen