Love in the Home

I often find myself caught up in the day to day upkeep of our home, work, and life. Sometimes I come to the end of the day and realize my day was spent doing things of little importance. Did I really have to vacuum instead of play candy land like Malachi wanted to do? Is there really anything wrong with holding Korra while she sleeps? What am I trying to accomplish? The floors will get dirty again and the laundry will be there tomorrow. What will my kids remember a clean house or a mom who spent time building relationships with her babies?
I came across this poem the other day and wanted to share it:

If I live in a house of spotless beauty
with everything in its place, but have not Love,
I am a housekeeper—not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative
achievements, but have not Love,
my children learn cleanliness—not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints
on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up
the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler,
runs with the child, then stands aside
to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Love is the key that opens salvation’s message
to a child’s heart.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is Love.

Author Unknown