Love In the Home

I came across this poem while putting together my MOPS Newsletter this month. The last three stanzas really spoke to me, especially "Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart".


Love in the Home (author unknown)

If I live in a house of spotless beauty
With everything in its place,
But have not love, I am a
Housekeeper – not a homemaker

If I have time for waxing, polishing,
And decorative achievements, but
Have not love, my children learn
Cleanliness – not godliness

Love leaves the dust in search
Of a child’s laugh
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints
On a newly cleaned window

Love wipes away the tears before it
Wipes up the spilled milk
Love picks up the child before it
Picks up the toys

Love is present through the trials
Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler,
Runs with the child and then stands aside to let
The youth walk into adulthood

Love is the key that opens salvation’s
Message to a child’s heart

Before I became a mother I took glory
In my house of perfection
Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child

As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,
But the greatest of all is love

In case you've forgotten....

...what I look like: Grace surprised me with this portrait yesterday. My heart just swelled at seeing this! Three little letters in the handwriting of my sweet little girl - I am so blessed and proud to be a mom.

On a side note, all of Grace's people occasionally have ears, feet, a nose, fingers or hair...but always have a bellybutton. It's very important to her. I'm sure there must be some deeper meaning in this. Snicker.