On occasion, I use an illustration from the pulpit that generates a fairly large number of requests for a copy. Such was the case this past Sunday when, in the process of celebrating Mother’s Day, I read a poem about how hard our grandmothers worked and sacrificed on our behalves with little or no recognition.
Given the amount of feedback, I thought I would simply post it here today. It is titled “PERFECT DAY”.
Grandma, on a winter's day,
milked the cows and fed them hay,
hitched the mule, drove kids to school...
did a washing, mopped the floors,
washed the windows and did some chores...
Cooked a dish of home-dried fruit,
pressed her husband's Sunday suit...
swept the parlor, made the bed,
baked a dozen loaves of bread...
split some firewood and lugged it in,
enough to fill the kitchen bin...
Cleaned the lamps and put in oil,
stewed some apples before they spoiled...
churned the butter, baked a cake,
then exclaimed, "For goodness sake!"
When the calves ran from the pen,
and chased them all back in again...
Gathered eggs and locked the stable,
back to the house and set the table...
cooked a supper that was delicious,
then washed and dried all dirty dishes...
fed the cat and sprinkled clothes,
mended a basketful of hose...
Then opened the organ and began to play:
"When You Come to the End of a Perfect Day..."
What a powerful reminder of how hard our forebears worked each and every day of their lives. I am of the “woman of noble character” found in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 31, verses 10-31):
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Where would most all of us be without the love and affection showered upon us by loving parents and grandparents? If you filed to do so this past weekend, please take a moment to contact your mother and share your appreciation and affection for her. As the text says, “rise up and call her blessed”. That will surely be rewarding to her.
And if she has already passed on to her eternal reward, then honor her memory by rising up and becoming a blessing to someone else in her memory. Such a step would surely have made her happy.
POEM SOURCE: Reminisce, Magazine, premiere issue, 1991, pp. 46-7. Also available widely on the internet. See, for example: http://www.grandparents.net/perfectday.htm.
NOTE: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnwabbio/wab4.htm has a companion poem about grandpa as well.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/31.htm.
Given the amount of feedback, I thought I would simply post it here today. It is titled “PERFECT DAY”.
Grandma, on a winter's day,
milked the cows and fed them hay,
hitched the mule, drove kids to school...
did a washing, mopped the floors,
washed the windows and did some chores...
Cooked a dish of home-dried fruit,
pressed her husband's Sunday suit...
swept the parlor, made the bed,
baked a dozen loaves of bread...
split some firewood and lugged it in,
enough to fill the kitchen bin...
Cleaned the lamps and put in oil,
stewed some apples before they spoiled...
churned the butter, baked a cake,
then exclaimed, "For goodness sake!"
When the calves ran from the pen,
and chased them all back in again...
Gathered eggs and locked the stable,
back to the house and set the table...
cooked a supper that was delicious,
then washed and dried all dirty dishes...
fed the cat and sprinkled clothes,
mended a basketful of hose...
Then opened the organ and began to play:
"When You Come to the End of a Perfect Day..."
What a powerful reminder of how hard our forebears worked each and every day of their lives. I am of the “woman of noble character” found in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 31, verses 10-31):
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Where would most all of us be without the love and affection showered upon us by loving parents and grandparents? If you filed to do so this past weekend, please take a moment to contact your mother and share your appreciation and affection for her. As the text says, “rise up and call her blessed”. That will surely be rewarding to her.
And if she has already passed on to her eternal reward, then honor her memory by rising up and becoming a blessing to someone else in her memory. Such a step would surely have made her happy.
POEM SOURCE: Reminisce, Magazine, premiere issue, 1991, pp. 46-7. Also available widely on the internet. See, for example: http://www.grandparents.net/perfectday.htm.
NOTE: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnwabbio/wab4.htm has a companion poem about grandpa as well.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/31.htm.