Fade, fade each earthly joy

Jane Catharine Bonar, née Lundie, was daughter of the Rev. Robert Lundie, some time minister of the parish of Kelso, Scotland, born at Kelso Manse. After losing her father and mother in 1832 (at age 10), Jane moved to a home in Edinburgh. In 1835, she was sent to a school in London. On her return, she spent much time with her sister Mary at the manse in Cleish until 1840, when Mary died. She married Horatius Bonar in 1843, the same year that she wrote this hymn. - John Julian 'Dictionary of Hymnology' and hymntime

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Mr. Sankey tells a very touching incident in connection with this hymn. An evangelist, J. Denham Smith, was holding revival meetings in the city of Dublin. Mr Smith had a little boy, 4 years old. The whole family loved to sing, and one evening after meetings they were singing, "Jesus is Mine". The little laddie went to his mother and said, "Please mummy, don't sing that hymn; I can't sing it yet; Jesus is not mine yet". This incident was related to Mr. Smith, who took the matter lightly, remarking that his son was too young to understand the meaning of the hymn. However, on another occasion when the hymn was sung, little Willie again pled with his mother to stop the hymn, stating that he could not truthfully sing it yet. The following morning Willie did not come down to breakfast after being called, and upon seeking him, his father found him on his knees earnestly praying. Upon hearing his father's voice, he arose and asked his father when the next children's meeting would be held. He was told it would be on Friday evening that week. He said that he wanted so much to find Jesus. At the children's meeting the lad was quiet and attentive and seemed to be drinking in every word as his father told the simple story of Jesus and His love. At the close of the meeting he went up on the platform to his father, and throwing his arms around him, he said, "Now, dear Papa, I can sing with the rest, 'Jesus is Mine!'" - 'More Living Hymn Stories' by Wilbur Konkel

Each time I begin to experiece persecution in the cause of following Jesus the Spirit of God always uses this song to remind me of the joy of eternity.

I was feeling bad that the advice I gave to a colleague of mine who call me Mum and I call her "my daughter" was interpreted wrongly and used against me with the intention to ruin my career. I got relieved from the hurtful pain inflicted in my heart by her when this song was sang in the morning Mass I attended two days after the incident and immediately I got into my office, I googled it and here it is.

With Jesus all will always be well.

soul touching

It was Christ the King day in 2003. I gave a testimony in my native church about the manifest presence of God in the life of a true Christian. I was remarkably raw in my short exhortation. I got home and at night about 0055hrs I was woken by a beam of light incident on my eyes from my window. Behold a black African mamba (serpent) had appeared in my bed room and had climbed my left legs and I shook it off. I praised God that morning and this hymn ministered to me immensely as I sang it repeatedly with excitement. My help comes from God who made heaven and earth.

Amen! Christ is the only thing that will never fade!

Hallelujah! Amen! Welcome the eternal One! Christ is our portion, dear saints!

Of the few songs that still linger in my soul from my minor seminary days, this is a top choice. Years after, a pentecostal, I find the lyrics thoroughly delightful. It still blesses me. Another that blesses me is "Most Holy Trinity!"

I preached some retreats with this hymn back in Nigeria. Not finding it in hymn books I decided to google it, and here I am with it; a rejuvenation.

It was some time in 1962, while in a primary school in Makera Baptist School Kaduna Nigeria that my music teacher taught us this song. Early on 10 June 2011, exactly 3 years when I dropped my uniform as a naval officer with an admirable career in the Nigerian Navy, the lyrics of this song kept coming to me. I was urged to go back to the lyrics and I googled it to find the lyrics with this wonderful tune. Certainly, it is a call for evangelism as all we love may fade away. Jesus is Mine and I profess.