Little Things Studio by Kate Whitley

You need to know this hymn! It's called "What a friend we have in Jesus"

And you're not going to believe the story behind this hymn…

I think we forget that hymn writers were real people—just like us. Brothers and sisters in Christ who lived, suffered, and clung to Jesus through it all. Their stories matter—and this one especially matters.

Joseph M. Scriven was born in Ireland, educated, engaged, and headed for a military career. But illness stole his future plans. Then, the night before his wedding, his fiancée tragically drowned. Hoping for a new beginning, he moved to Canada… only to lose his second fiancée to sudden illness.

He then chose to live in poverty, doing odd jobs and serving the poor and disabled, trying to live out Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount—literally. People called him strange. He was often alone.

Eventually, Scriven was found drowned in a lake. Some say it was an accident. Others aren’t sure.

But out of all that heartbreak came this simple poem, that he wrote to comfort his grieving mother across the ocean:

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear…”

He never meant for anyone else to see it. But the Lord did.

And now millions find comfort in that same Friend, through the words of a man who knew suffering intimately.

This hymn isn’t just a song.
It’s a lifeline.

I love this verse because it takes the everyday things—eating, drinking, going to work, doing laundry, wiping sticky counters—and turns them into acts of worship. It’s a reminder that God doesn’t just care about the grand, beautiful moments. He cares about the little, ordinary ones too.

It’s making breakfast with a grateful heart, responding to a hard email with kindness, or doing a task that feels thankless because you know it matters to Him.

It’s the small faithfulness of setting the table for your family, folding laundry with a prayer in your heart, or encouraging a friend over coffee.

And that’s why I made this design to be all about cooking and the kitchen. I loved putting all the everyday things of fruit, vegetables, mugs, teapots, plates, and cups.

Everything we do along with eating and drinking - cooking and dishes - all of it we are to do to the glory of God.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Not just pretty towels. Not just nice fabric.
But truth you can hold in your hands.

Words you grew up singing.
Words that got you through the waiting seasons, the heartbroken seasons, the everyday ordinary seasons.
Words that still hum in the background when you're doing the dishes or folding the laundry or just trying to keep going.

Amazing Grace when you’re overwhelmed.
Be Still My Soul when the to-do list feels bigger than you.
It Is Well when the day didn’t go how you planned.
To God Be The Glory, always.
Not just songs—prayers stitched into the corners of your life.
Promises for the days when you believe with your whole heart.
And for the days you need help believing at all.

These hymn tea towels are for remembering what’s true.
For remembering Who holds you.
For covering your home in beauty and in faith, one ordinary day at a time.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
HENRY VAN D**E, 1907

What I’ve been working on lately. Some works in progress. Some coming soon!

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11

Strength and peace. May you fee that so deeply in this season.

Oh these rich blues are so so perfect on this tea towel. And I just LOVE the hymn "What a friend we have in Jesus". This makes such a perfect gift for any occasion of any season for anyone. I know that seems like I might be exaggerating but I'm not!

I love a good bookmark. And I love taking care of books. Take care of your books and get yourself some cute bookmarks!

My Hope is Built Hymn Story time

Edward Mote (1797–1874) was a master cabinetmaker, a hymn writer of over 100 hymns, and eventually a Baptist minister at age 55. In 1834 on his way to work one morning, he thought about writing a hymn on the “Gracious Experience of a Christian.” He had the chorus written before he got to work. By the end of the day he had the first four verses written. Later that week, he visited a woman who was very ill. She wanted to sing a hymn, but they couldn’t find a hymnal. He pulled out the new hymn from his pocket and sang it for her. She loved it so much she asked for a copy. Mote finished the hymn adding two more verses then sent it to his publisher. It immediately became popular and is still a popular hymn today.

In 1886 when Daniel B. Towner, the composer of the music, was leading worship at one of Dwight L. Moody’s big revivals in Brockton, Massachusetts. Towner shared the story in Ira D. Sankey’s biography, My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns.

He recalled that one night, during a testimony meeting, a young man stood up and said, “I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” That simple, honest statement stuck with Towner. He jotted it down and sent it, along with a little note about the moment, to his friend Rev. J.H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister.

Sammis took that phrase and turned it into one of the most well-loved hymn refrains of all time:

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

The hymn first appeared in Hymns Old and New in 1887, and it’s been in hymnals ever since.

Sammis himself had quite a journey to ministry. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started as a successful businessman in Logansport, Indiana. But through his work with the YMCA, he felt called to ministry, eventually attending McCormick and Lane Seminaries and becoming a Presbyterian minister in 1880. He pastored churches across Iowa, Indiana, and Minnesota before joining the faculty at the Los Angeles Bible Institute.

Like so many gospel songs, this hymn is built on the simple truth that trusting God’s word and obeying His will is the surest path to lasting peace and joy. And in the final stanza, Sammis captures the ultimate promise of our faith—that one day, we will sit at His feet.