Mother Performs Cover Of 'Give Me Jesus' To Smiling Baby

May 14, 2021 by apost team

A mother, Michelle Figueroa-Cardenas, sang a beautiful hymn to her infant son and the adorable baby smiled the entire time in a video originally posted in 2017. Figueroa-Cardenas sang the hymn “Give Me Jesus,” which was made popular by the singer and songwriter Fernando Ortega. The video is incredibly sweet and shows a special bonding moment between mother and son.

The little baby seems in awe of his mother as she beautifully sings the hymn. He has all of her attention, and it is clear how happy the baby is to be in her arms. As Figueroa-Cardenas sings the baby’s eyes light up and he smiles and giggles as if he is excited. He stays still and never takes his eyes off his mother. She gives him a sweet kiss at the end of the video.

This beautiful serenade from a mother to her son is a wonderful reminder to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Children are precious miracles to be treasured, and this mother did just that by capturing this adorable moment on video so it can be enjoyed for years to come.

The song “Give Me Jesus'' was possibly written in 1845, when the oldest version of the song was published by Reverend Jacob Knapp. It was a popular hymn among Afircan-American congregations which are credited with influencing the modern version of the song most people are familiar with today. Fernando Ortega, who is a Dove award-winning musical artist, released his own version of the song in 1999 that also became widely popular. 

Ortega is best known for his modernized renditions of popular hymns such as “Give Me Jesus,” “Be Thou My Vision” and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” He was born and raised in New Mexico and has been practicing music since he was 8 years old.

Figueroa-Cardenas is a mother to three sons, according to her Facebook page. She is also a worship leader at her church, so that explains her impressive vocal talent.

"In the morning, when I rise / In the morning, when I rise / In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus," she sings.

When she originally posted the video to her Facebook page it received over 7 million views. Figueroa-Cardenas posted this mother’s day message on May 9, 2021:

“It’s not always easy, in fact most days it’s down right hard but...it’s always worth it. Being the mom to these three boys, all so different and so unique yet all so amazing in their own way and I get to be the keeper of each of them! I’m the one who teaches them first about love, about acceptance, about how to be gentle and kind and how to handle women and all their moods! I’m grateful for our time together at our church today, for our lunch but mostly for how quiet they’re all being now while I sit in bed and relax! Happy Mother’s Day to me!”

It sounds like this family is still sharing precious moments together, even now that the baby in the video is all grown up. Figueroa-Cardenas responded to a comment asking how old the baby is now, and she shared that he is currently 4 years old. 

apost.com

Singing to children is actually very beneficial to their health, especially when they are still infants. According to The National Association for the Education of Young Children singing to your infant gives you the ability to bond with them and make your voice the most important in their life. It is a way to show love and affection to your child. 

Singing also has benefits for how babies learn language and communicate with others. When a parent sings to a baby they begin to comprehend language and will start to learn new words, especially if the words are rhythmic and repetitive like in most children’s songs. 

When singing to a baby you are also requiring all of their attention, giving them the opportunity to practice listening. This is an incredibly valuable skill that will help children as they continue to progress and eventually go off to school. 

Singing to babies also helps them see and process emotions, as the act of singing involves emoting a tone, be it happiness or sadness or just playful fun. The child is there to witness these emotions and begin to recognize and understand what they mean. This builds emotional intelligence which helps children form healthy relationships as they get older. 

Figueroa-Cardenas and her son are clearly sharing a heartwarming moment of bonding in this video. The way that the baby looks at her tells all we need to know about what kind of mother she is. Her love added with all of the developmental benefits that comes from singing to babies makes this moment even more precious to witness.

Did you enjoy seeing the baby smile and laugh throughout the video? What do you think about singing regularly to children? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to pass this story on to your loved ones.