The final verse (or bridge and verse in the contemporary song release) was much more difficult to write. (To read about the inspiration for the first two verses of, Oh, Behold Your Little Ones, see previous post).
I knew I wanted to mention how Christ asks us to be like children, and that covered the first half (or the bridge) but then I was stumped. The only material I had left from everything the Savior had said about children was the verse below.
Matthew 18:10
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
And I thought about how beautiful it is that our children were once, only just so recently, in the presence of our Heavenly Father. How they, like angels, leave his throne bringing with them the love and peace of heaven.
And so, I wrote this line:
VERSE 3
Oh, behold your little ones,
Who once were before God’s face.
They as angels enfold you, enfold you now.
And encircle you in his grace.
And then I packaged up my lyrics and a simple melody into my songwriting software and shipped it off to my mother (who I am blessed to call my partner and arranger) and went off to church.
When I came home, she had already written and recorded a simple piano accompaniment to the song. As I listened to the beautiful notes of her baby grand piano and the song reached this final line, a question came into my mind, “What about all those children who were not only with God at one time, but who have already come and are now back in his presence?”
In that moment, I realized I had forgotten a sacred group of children – a group that included my dear friend’s toddler girl who left their family in a sudden devastating blow, another friend’s young infant son, and yet another friend’s stillborn baby girl who was delivered at 9 months gestation only to have her parents go home with their arms empty.
And as I thought on these sweet children and the suffering of their family still on earth, I began to cry and suddenly felt the presence of heavenly beings around me who put in my mind the words, “for our mothers need comfort.” And I knew the purpose of this song was much greater.
I submitted the finished hymn to my church in July of 2019. I later learned they received over 17,000 submissions for a collection of maybe 200-300 songs. And so, I began the daunting process of bringing forth the message of this song on my own. Only it hasn’t been on my own, God has always gone before and opened a door before I even knew to ask for it. He provided all the people I needed as dear partners, and I have felt the assistance of those beyond the veil.
If anyone tells me what a beautiful song “Oh, Behold Your Little Ones” is, my response will always be the same – the angels write incredible music.
Still image from the music video for Oh, Behold Your Little Ones
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2 thoughts on “Oh, Behold Your Little Ones – Inspiration Verse 3”
Your song, your inspiration for writing it, the inclusion of “lost” babies …. you touched my heart in a way I never quite expected when I first saw this. Thank you!
Rida, we are just seeing this comment. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with our song, it means a lot.
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