God Bless Mothers

William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)

This is a poem that was read to a lady at her baby shower. She is going to have her 6th child.

The Hand that

Rocks the Cradle

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,

Mother's 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.

Tied Down?

Tied Down?

"They tie you down," a woman said,
Whose cheeks should have been flaming red
With shame to speak of children so.
"When babies come you cannot go
In search of pleasure with your friends,
And all your happy wandering ends.
The things you like you cannot do,
For Babies make a slave of you."

I looked at her and said: "'Tis true
That children make a slave of you,
And tie you down with many a knot,
But have you never thought to what
It is of happiness and pride
That little babies have you tied?
Do you not miss the greater joys
That come with little girls and boys?

"They tie you down to laughter rare,
To hours of smiles and hours of care,
To nights of watching and to fears;
Sometimes they tie you down to tears
And then repay you with a smile,
And make your trouble all worth while.
They tie you fast to chubby feet,
To cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.

"They fasten you with cords of love
To God divine, who reigns above.
They tie you, whereso'er you roam,
Unto the little place called home;
And over sea or railroad track
They tug at you to bring you back.
The happiest people in the town
Are those the babies have tied down.

"Oh, go your selfish way and free
But hampered I would rather be,
Yes rather than a kingly crown
I would be, what you term, tied down;
Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,
Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,
The fettered slave of girl and boy,
And win from them earth's finest joy."
-Edgar A. Guest

I hope this poem encourages you all young and older ladies.

Endurance

  Endurance

   Though your days be dark and clouded,

Eyes red with grief and crying;

Life with pain and suffering shrouded,

To move through life you are trying.

Wishing to forget because of the pain,

Wishing not to because of the memories;

At Christ’s feet shed tears are lain.
You may feel helpless and full of grief;

Dark and angry clouds covering your sky,

Searching for a sign of hope and relief,

To get by on your own strength you may try;

An effort such as that will only fail,

To find hope you have but to look to Christ,

He will carry and guide you along your trail.
Your look on life do not let this mar;

For earth is but a temporary place,

He who you have lost is not lost and not far.

On Christ’s knee gazing into His smiling face,

Those that see Christ’s glorious face are few,

You sometime may be chosen to follow;

Then in Christ’s face will gaze he and you.

 Written by my brother.

This poem is for a family that had lost their 8 month old baby boy.