You thought that you were just patting him on the back or on the head, or just ruffling his hair, but your child cherished the warm, loving touch and his heart was brightened.
You thought you were reading a funny bedtime story with all the funny and scary voices, but your child enjoyed the fact you read every word even though he had heard them a hundred times before.
You thought you asked your childs opinion about something that wasn't too important, but your child thought you asked because his opinions and thoughts were important.
You thought you were being a good host by inviting your childs friends in for a cool snack on a warm summer day, but your child knew that his friends were important to you and always welcome in your home.
You thought the tears in your eyes went unnoticed when your child accomplished an important goal in his life, but your child knew that he was deeply imbedded in your heart and you sensed his accomplishement.
You thought that the refrigerator was as good of a place as any for hanging all the artwork and 'well done' papers that came home from school, but your child felt important as he came home from school each day with something to show you and tack up in his personal hall of fame.
You thought you gave your child some simple chores or jobs to do and told him "Well done", with a smile when he did it, but your child learned responsibility and began to realize he could tackle even tougher things.
You thought you were helping a troubled restless child get some sleep by fixing a cup of hot cocoa, but your child felt that you were opening your heart around a kitchen table and making all the problems a lot smaller.
You thought your vacation wasn't much of a success because the fish didn't bite and the sun didn't shine, but your child still remembers everything that happened and he still laughs at all the funny parts.
You thought you were just pointing out the words in the church hymn book with your childs finger as he tried to sing along, but your child learned that singing praises to God in worship was important.
You thought you were just giving him a quick hug at a special moment or 'just because', but your child carried it with him for a long time, because what you really said was,"I'm proud of you!" or "I love you!"
You thought you were just giving him a little kiss on the cheek to tell him goodbye as he left for school, but your child felt warm and loved because he knew there would be another one waiting for him when he got home.
Mary had a little Lamb,
He followed her to school each day,
Then the rules changed one day,
Every day got worse and worse,
What must we do to stop the crime,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
When it wasn't against the rules.
He made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.
Against the law it became.
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name.
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh and play,
You heard them crying tears.
That's in our schools today?
Let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray.
-Author Unknown
"I got two A's," the small boy cried.
"Mom. I've got the dishes done!"
"I've mowed the grass," the tall boy said,
The children in the house next door
"I got two A's," the small boy cried,
"Mom, I've got the dishes done!"
"I've mowed the grass," the tall boy said,
Children deserve a little praise
Unknown
His voice was filled with glee.
His father very bluntly asked,
"Why didn't you get three?"
The girl called from the door.
Her mother very calmly said,
"And did you sweep the floor?"
"And put the mower away!"
His father asked him, with a shrug,
"Did you clean off the clay?"
Seem happy and content.
The same things happened over there,
But this is how it went:
His voice was filled with glee.
His father proudly said, "That's great!
I'm glad you live with me!"
The girl called from the door.
Her mother smiled and softly said,
"Each day I love you more."
"And put the mower away!"
His father answered with much joy,
"You've made my happy day!"
For tasks they're asked to do.
If they're to lead a happy life,
So much depends on you.
"Mommy, look!" cried my daughter, Darla, pointing to a
"Uh huh," I murmured, driving, lost in thought about the
Disappointment filled her face. "What's the matter,
Sweetheart?" I asked, entirely dense.
"Nothing," my seven-year-old said. The moment was gone.
Near home, we slowed
"Tonight, she has too many things to do," I said.
Dinner, baths and phone calls filled the hours until bedtime.
"Come on, Darla, time for bed!" She raced past me up the
stairs. Tired, I kissed her
"Mom, I forgot to give you something!" she said. My patience
was gone.
"Give it to me in the morning," I said, but she shook her head.
"You won't have time in the morning!" she retorted.
"I'll take time," I answered defensively. Sometimes no matter
how hard I tried,
She wasn't ready to give up yet. She wrinkled her freckled
little nose in anger
"No, you won't! It will be just like today when I told you to
look at the hawk.
I was too weary to argue; she hit too close to the truth. "Good night!"
I
Later, though, her gray-blue gaze filled my vision as I thought
about how
My husband asked, "Why so glum?" I told him.
"Maybe she's not asleep yet. Why don't you check," he said with
all the
I cracked open her door, and the light from the window spilled
over her
Tears filled my eyes. She had torn into small pieces a big red
heart with a
I carefully removed the tattered pieces. Once the puzzle was
put back into
Why I Love My Mother
Although you're busy, and you work so hard
The words were an arrow straight to the heart. At seven years
old, she had
Ten minutes later I carried a tray to her room, with two cups
of hot
Her thick dark lashes lay like fans against her lids as they
fluttered,
"What is that for?" she asked, confused by this late-night
intrusion.
"This is for you, because you are the most important part of
my busy day!"
She smiled and sleepily drank half her cup of chocolate.
Then she drifted
Unknown
chicken hawk soaring through the air.
tight schedule of my day.
to search for the albino deer that comes
out from behind the
thick mass of trees in the early evening.
She was nowhere to be seen.
on the cheek, said prayers and
tucked her in.
time flowed through my fingers like sand in
an hourglass, never enough.
Not enough for her, for my husband,
and definitely
not enough for me.
and swiped away her chestnut brown hair.
You didn't even listen to what I said."
shut her door with a resounding thud.
little time we really had until she was grown and gone.
authority of a parent in the right. I followed his
advice, wishing
it was my own idea.
sleeping form. In her hand I could see the remains of
a crumpled paper.
Slowly I opened her palm to see what the item
of our disagreement had been.
poem she had written titled, "Why I Love My Mother!"
place, I read what she had written:
You always take time to play
I love you Mommy because I am
The biggest part of your busy day!
the wisdom of Solomon.
chocolate with marshmallows and two peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches. When I softly touched her smooth cheek, I could
feel my
heart burst with love.
awakened from a dreamless sleep, and she looked
at the tray.
back to sleep, not really understanding how
strongly I meant what I said.
