Friday, January 20, 2012

Parable of Motherhood...

I love this poem/parable...I found it when I taught the importance of mothers as we studied Secret Garden in the 4th grade. I've learned a great deal from those days...I know that I was meant to teach there at that school -- it helped shape the person/mother I am today.



                                                  Parable of Motherhood
By
Temple Bailey
The young mother set her foot on the path of life.  "Is the way long?" she asked.  And her guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard.  And you will be old before you reach the end of it.  But the end will be better than the beginning."  But the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than those years.  So she played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will never be lovelier than this."
Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle and the children said, "Oh Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come," and the mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children,  "A little patience and we are there."  So the children climbed and when they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother."  And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness.  Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given then strength."
And with the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil--and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, "Look up.  Lift your eyes to the light."  And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.  And that night the mother said,  "This is the best day of all for I have shown my children God."
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent.  And her children were tall and strong and walked with courage.  And when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.  And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey.  And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone and their children after them."  And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."  
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her.  And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still.  A mother like ours is more than a memory.  She is a Living Presence."

Thursday, January 19, 2012


Set up of this blog...wow, finally got it done!  I sure wish I was more computer savvy! I love computers and what all they can do but I just don't know enough about them and that  frustrates me...I also love being able to type fast and to put my thoughts, feelings and dreams down electronically...but now I only wish I had more time to do it...This year though-- I'm gonna write and keep writing...my daughter is my inspiration...she's such a writer and I love reading her blog. She puts her thoughts down so beautifully and poignantly.

Yesterday she was singing this song..."Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and I found this rendition of it by Eva Cassidy that is so beautiful...and to hear my daughter sing it too...oh, how I love to hear my little girl sing with all her heart...she has such a beautiful voice...and this song it speaks of her dreams...she's in love, you see...and I believe, it's true love... She would do anything that is righteous for him ...go anywhere do anything... I only hope he too loves her just as much...

He's a really nice young man, one whom I'd be pleased to call son (in law...?) and I believe he understands what it means to wait...but will he... really...?  You see she desires to serve a mission...which would occur after his...but her decision is still a matter of prayer...  and he...
He's an attractive, intelligent, discerning young man with many young ladies who would love to end up with him...Is he a Jacob for my little girl...? Is she meant to serve a mission...? Is it the Lord's will she truly serves as a full time missionary...?

Possibly, just possibly, the Lord planted that desire in her to help her along her way, keeping her safe from other's harm but not intending her to truly serve ...for a greater mission He had in store...one of eternal prominence...

Anyway, for now they're two young people in love and willing to grow together...I love them both and pray they'll be able to find the happiness God has for them.




PS.  Sorry if my punctuation is skewampy...I'm working on that. :)