Mother's Path of Life

 

    The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the 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 these 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 the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

    Then the night came, and the 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, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."



    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, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

    And the mother, when she lay down at 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 them strength."

    And 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 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. But 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 they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know 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."

    Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.. Not time, not space...not even death!



    Walking in Mommy's Footsteps

    My three year-old was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him. I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh that's all right, Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me. After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose patience. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said, "Well, Mommy, my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps. But I can't see Him, so I'm walking in yours."


    They're Only Little Once.

    Dear Father God:
    Grant me the wisdom to guide them down the path that their feet should take. For I know that they can never turn back and walk those paths with me again. Give me the wisdom to guide their feet so that someday they'll be able to walk alone.
    They're only little once.

    Give me the time I need to enjoy them. For I know that after they're grown, I'll never have another chance to tell stories and pretend at those tea parties. I'll never have another chance to watch them in a school play or church sing, or to see them catch that first fish or hit that first home run ball. Give me the time in life's busy schedule to have fun with my children.
    They're only little once.

    Let me be a loving parent. Let me correct and not just punish, explain and not merely scold. Let me know when to correct, and how often, and when it's best to just look the other way. Help me be patient and give me a gentle hand to mold them into better people.
    They're only little once.

    Let me be a good teacher and an even better example. Give me the right words and deeds to teach them. Help me to teach them about You and how to walk in Your ways so that when they are old they will not depart from Your ways. For they're only little one time, only innocent and trusting and pliable for a space of time, one minute in an eternity. Let me do my best for them while I have the chance.

     

    God is our "Father" in Heaven. He is our example, our teacher, our friend, and He desires for us to spend eternity with Him. God cares about every little thing in our life. He sets the example for what love is. He asks us to pass this on to our children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, etc.

    So have fun! Don't get so bogged down with the cares of the world that you forget what the really important things are! Let them see Jesus' love in all you do, so that they might know Jesus as Lord!

    (The above Prayer and post script was sent to us by Rev. John Fernandez of Thoughts for the Day ~ March 12, 2003) ~ PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MOTHERS and CHILDREN YOU KNOW. MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED

~

 



MIDI:
Performed by 
Margi Harrell
Please feel free to visit her wonderful site right HERE.
This midi along with more wonderful compositions and/or performances are available at Ms. Harrell's site on CDs. If you wish to use her music on your personal web site you must contact Ms. Harrell. 

Feb 13, 2003