Monday, September 19, 2011

A Mom's Version of I Corinthians 13

"Grace and mercy is not your friend today!"

Those are the words I shouted this morning as the hustle and bustle started. Then I remembered that in everything I do, even in being a mother, I have to do it in love.
 
"And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 
 
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. 

If I scream at my children for every infraction, 
and fault them for every mess they make, 
but have not love, my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children.

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 accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy", 
the taxi-driver to every childhood event, 
the counselor when my children fail or are hurt. 

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

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. 
Now I glory in God's perfection of my children. 

All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance, 
And what remain are the memories of my kids. 

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture, 
dishes with missing place settings, and bedroom walls full of stickers, 
posters and markings, 
But the greatest of all is the Love 
that permeates my relationships with my children.

-By: Jim Fowler

5 comments:

Deanna said...

Sweet Autumn Blessings to you!
Enjoyed reading this special post.

Was this post written by Jim Fowler or did he do the artwork?

Thought the post was great,
d

Love Abounds At Home said...

Hello Deanna :)
Jim wrote this piece. Thanks for stopping by.

Unknown said...

This really speaks volumes. Powerful! Thanks for sharing.

Pat said...

I think I needed this reminder especially now as I am feeling a little stressed with the extra job of caring for the grands.
Pat

Anonymous said...

This is outstanding! Thank you so much for posting this...there is so much thought behind each verse. I had to stop and think through each and contemplated on each. Beautiful! Sarah