Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling

We play this as we go up to Communion. I always get chills.

The Lord Jesus is so just that He respects the personal decision and waits.

Will Thompson was called the bard of Ohio. From his home in East Liverpool, Ohio, he went to New York City to sell some of the secular songs he had written. Music dealers picked them up, and soon people across the country were singing "My Home on the Old Ohio" and "Gathering Shells from the Seashore." He made so much money from his compositions that newspapers called him "the millionaire songwriter."

But Thompson, a Christian, soon began concentrating on hymnwriting and set up his own firm for publishing hymnals. Two million copies of his gospel quartet books were sold. Sometime around 1880, when Thompson was 33 years old, he wrote this invitation hymn. - Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton.

When the world-re­nowned lay preach­er, Dwight Ly­man Moody, lay on his death bed in his North­field, Mass­a­chu­setts, home, Will Thomp­son made a spe­cial vi­sit to in­quire as to his con­di­tion. The at­tend­ing phy­si­cian re­fused to ad­mit him to the sick­room, and Moody heard them talk­ing just out­side the bed­room door. Re­cog­niz­ing Thomp­son’s voice, he called for him to come to his bed­side. Tak­ing the Ohio po­et-com­pos­er by the hand, the dy­ing evan­gel­ist said, “Will, I would ra­ther have writ­ten “Soft­ly and Ten­der­ly Je­sus is Call­ing” than an­y­thing I have been able to do in my whole life.” - Living Stories of Famous Hymns by Emurian

In the original, stanza #1, line #3 says:

See, on the portals, He's waiting and watching,

i love this song...always Jesus is calling for you and me.

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon for you and me. Why do we tarry? Time is now fleeting, the moments passing away. Shadows, death beds are coming for you and me...Jesus is calling! Answer Him TODAY,NOW! Call upon His wonderful soft, tender and sweet Name.He is calling....for you and me....

I love this song and Jesus.

I remember hearing this song in church when I was young and even though I may have lost my religion and do not attend church anymore, this song is one that sticks with me. I love how beautiful the lyrics are. I sing it often to my children. I am so glad I look into and found this site.

This is an example of song written with inspiration. Singing this song makes JESUS so real in my mind. I will write songs of inspiration.

Since I heard the song yesterday, I could not just take my heart and lips off the song. This song is full, I want to sing it so many more will hear the message in it.

I love this song. I heard it when I was 5. It was beautiful in my ears and it is still ringing in my ears. It makes me wanna cry right now.