Gleanings

HOME VIRTUES

The beauty of home is harmony.
The security of a home is loyalty.
The joy of a home is love.
The plenty of a home is in Children.
The rule of a home is service.
The comfort of the home is in contented spirits.
The make of a home, of a real human home, is God Himself,
the same who made the stars and built the world.

The Christian home is the Master's workshop
where the processes of character molding are
silently, lovingly, faithfully, and successfully carried on.

Anyone can build an altar;
it requires God to provide the flame.
Anybody can build a house;
but we need the Lord for the creation of a home.

Children can have no greater inheritance than believing parents.

--Dorthea FLNBT

WHO OTHER THAN A MOTHER

Who other than a mother...
...knows what the world looks like at 2 AM, 3 AM, 4 AM?
...and feels like she will never again get a full night's sleep?

Who other than a mother...
...is able to carry a diaper bag, stuffed animal, shopping bag, purse, baby and keys (all in one arm), while keeping the other hand available to unlock the car, open doors, or hold hands with another child?

Who other than a mother...
...can eat peanut butter & jelly for several days in a row, counts fruit snacks as a fruit, and thinks McDonalds (with a playland) is one of the best restaurants in town?

Who other than a mother...
...never goes to sleep at night until each child is checked on, covered up, and kissed?

Who other than a mother...
...is most likely driving a vehicle that is decorated with a car seat or two, empty juice boxes, fruit snack wrappers, a variety of toys and books, and several stale french fries?

Who other than a mother...
...can spend her evening playing Hi-Ho Cheerio!, watching a "Thomas the Train" video or reading "Go, Dog, Go" and know it was time well spent?

Who other than a mother...
...tears up when her 3-year-old, who notices her new lipstick, stops dead in his tracks and says, "Oh, Mommy, you look BEA-U-TI-FUL!"?

Who other than a mother...
...with endless chores of dishes, laundry, and picking up toys, will stop in the middle of these tasks when she hears, "Mommy, come see this!" or "Mommy, will you play with me?"?

Who other than a mother...
...can remember the exact moment her baby smiled for the first time, took her first steps or finally said "Ma-Ma", when she's been saying "Da-Da" for months?

Who other than a mother...
...will worry constantly and pray consistently for her children, and know that the most important thing that she can do for her children is to teach them about God and how much He loves them?

--Beth Gustafson

Gleaned from the July/August 2005 issue of The Voice of Victory Magazine, edited by Evangelist Boyd Halford, 44025 - 198th Street, Livonia MO 63551.