The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

We had a wonderful Mother's Day at Victory Tabernacle.  Sunday morning included presentations by each Sunday school class, then Pastor White preached an awesome message.  Les preached last night and it was also awesome.  

 

We were talking about mothers on the way to church last night and Les asked, "How does the saying go, 'the hand that rocks the cradle...'?"  I looked it up and found that this is a poem by William Ross Wallace that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. The poem was first published in 1865 under the title "What Rules the World," but is now known as "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World."  After I read it to Les in the car he decided to read at the beginning of his message last night.

Our society is at war with our families.  Families are under attack like never before.  Government officials claim that children belong to everyone.  NO!  That is not the case!  Your children belong to YOU.  If you are raising them to follow the ways of God, no one has the authority to change that.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:6, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

 

Rock the cradle and rule the world, mama!

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace.
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mothers first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission,

Here upon our natal sod;

Keep—oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled,

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Repost: Shame, Shame, Shame

I stumbled on this old post this morning and wanted to repost it.  I've talked to several young mothers recently, moms living in that stage of constant chaos, just trying to keep their little ones fed and clothed.  Don't worry about that perfect life.  Live with love and the rest will take care of itself.

Through the years I have purchased the Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn. "Sisterchicks on the Loose," "Sisterchicks in Sombreros," "Sisterchicks do the Hula" and many others. They are fun reading, but usually have a little more to them than you would expect at first glance. The definition of a Sisterchick is : n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.


With our upcoming trip, I decided to reread "Sisterchicks in Gondolas." This book is about two sisters-in-law on a trip to Venice. I won't spoil it for you if you want to read it, but here's what the back cover says:

Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice, Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadows of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.

During one heartfelt conversation, Sue apologizes to Jenna and Jenna utters three simple but profound words, "Shame OFF you."

I think women, especially moms, need that message. We can be so hard on ourselves. If our house isn't spotless, with magazine perfect meals on the table, not a single speck of dust in sight, we start feeling like failures. I've read blogs by young mothers who confess to all the things they aren't perfect at. I want to say, "Shame off you."

I'm not talking about being lazy and sitting around eating chocolate covered cherries all day while your children run around like hooligans and your husband searches for clean socks. I'm talking about the times when LIFE happens. A sick child takes precedence over a clean kitchen - I can't tell you how many times Mom stopped whatever she was doing to take care of Rod. A single phone call can change the course of your week. When you rush out the door to the hospital or funeral home, no one is looking under the bed for dust bunnies.

So the next time you're beating yourself up because of your shortcomings, take a lesson from Sue and Jenna. Later in the book, the phrase is repeated with another, "Shame off you and Grace on you." Extend the same grace to yourself that you willingly extend to others.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  This blog started with my Mom in mind.  I have used so many quotes from her Bible and shared so many stories.  I often wonder what she would have done with a blog.  There would have been lots of pictures of grandkids and dogs, and her Friday Foodie would have been Chocolate Chews!
 

Can I just repeat yesterday's words?  I've realize more and more just how blessed I was.  I think one of things I miss the most is just hearing her voice.  She could stay calm in just about any situation, so her listening ear was the best.

I got completely distracted while working on this post.  We are in Hawaii, I don't have a lot of pictures on my laptop so I starting searching my blog for pictures.  I re-read all my posts with "Mom" in the label.  Go read this one if you have the time - "To Kathy."  Oh my, I sure do miss her!

Virtuous Woman Wordle

With Mother's Day quickly approaching, I decided to create some Wordles using Proverbs 31.  The most prominent word in that passage is "hands."  What are your hands doing today?

Call Her Blessed

A few weeks ago Sis. McGriffin asked me if I would sing on Mother's Day.  I started looking for a new song and finally found one!  This is too beautiful not to share.  You can listen to it here and also buy the performance track if you're interested.  I have a lead sheet in the original key of C (or I can transpose it to a different key in OnSong) and I'd be happy to email to anyone who wants it.

Call Her Blessed

You knew me in my mother's womb, spoke my name before time
You placed me in my mother's arms knowing I would be fine
She saw my first step, she heard my first word
I'm fearfully and wonderfully made

As I grew she taught me to follow You
Showed me how to love the way You do
Every time I fell she was there to pick me up
She held me close and then she let me go

Bless the one who gave me life
Bless the one who held me in her arms
Bless the one who told me that Jesus loves me so
You have heard her prayers, You have seen her tears
We rise and call her blessed

A mother's love is precious, so faithful and pure
With tenderness she blesses much more than we deserve
When I look into her eyes I begin to realize
What a wonder her love has been to me

Her faith lives on in us
We are walking miracles because she followed You

Bless the one who gave me life
Bless the one who held me in her arms
Bless the one who told me that Jesus loves me so
You have heard her prayers, You have seen her tears
We rise and call her blessed, we rise and call her blessed

~ Words and music by Stacey Noll

Shame, Shame, Shame

Through the years I have purchased the Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn. "Sisterchicks on the Loose," "Sisterchicks in Sombreros," "Sisterchicks do the Hula" and many others. They are fun reading, but usually have a little more to them than you would expect at first glance. The definition of a Sisterchick is : n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.


With our upcoming trip, I decided to reread "Sisterchicks in Gondolas." This book is about two sisters-in-law on a trip to Venice. I won't spoil it for you if you want to read it, but here's what the back cover says:

Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice , Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadows of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.

During one heartfelt conversation, Sue apologizes to Jenna and Jenna utters three simple but profound words, "Shame OFF you."

I think women, especially moms, need that message. We can be so hard on ourselves. If our house isn't spotless, with magazine perfect meals on the table, not a single speck of dust in sight, we start feeling like failures. I've read blogs by young mothers who confess to all the things they aren't perfect at. I want to say, "Shame off you."

I'm not talking about being lazy and sitting around eating chocolate covered cherries all day while your children run around like hooligans and your husband searches for clean socks. I'm talking about the times when LIFE happens. A sick child takes precedence over a clean kitchen - I can't tell you how many times Mom stopped whatever she was doing to take care of Rod. A single phone call can change the course of your week. When you rush out the door to the hospital or funeral home, no one is looking under the bed for dust bunnies.

So the next time you're beating yourself up because of your shortcomings, take a lesson from Sue and Jenna. Later in the book, the phrase is repeated with another, "Shame off you and Grace on you." Extend the same grace to yourself that you willingly extend to others.