Importance of Family and Home

Family, home and raising children has been the most important focus in my life. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, more important. It is a God given calling. It is what we will be judged by God for, a commandment. There are too many verses to mention but one is, "Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." That doesn't just happen. It happens because you have dedicated "Your Life" to it. It takes lots of work, sacrifice and prayer. No one will ever know the sacrifice, except God and you. You are not responsible for other people's children, but you are responsible to God for yours. What a gift, what a calling and I wouldn't miss one single moment of raising mine. It was without a doubt the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I love being a mother and now a grandmother.

I have always played classical music in my home and even for "my babies" when they were small. It is a peaceful, restful and edifying thing. Many pieces were written under inspiration and it inspires the soul to listen to this day. Chamber music in the morning is my favorite. It is energising, light, happy music. I always woke my babies with a smile and a happy note even if I felt down. As a result, my babies were not moody, unhappy babies. They anticipated having fun the moment they woke up. I tried to remain upbeat in their presence. They can sense from the time they are born if they are loved, enjoyed and secure. They can sense the slightest tension or insecurity. So I held them close, often wrapped a warm blanket around them and cuddled as often as they would let me.

Food is another nourishing, comforting important element of the home. It has always been my belief that the family should sit around the table after the children are born. There you take time for each other and to listen to each other. We had a separate room for a kitchen in my home growing up. We met there each night as a family. There my parents heard about my day and me theirs. That is where you connect and spend a few minutes together. It is how you get to know each other. Nothing is more important than those family times together around a table.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
It seems to me, as days fly by
And I grow older every year,
That childhood memories often come
And passing time makes them more dear.
I see a rainbow in the sky---
It's suddenly ribbons for my hair.
I hear the laughter of a child,
And once again--I'm carried there,
In memory to the home I knew,
Where love and joy were always spread,
And I recall that special day
When Mother baked our daily bread.
We children all would gather 'round
And help her knead and shape the dough.
The odor of those baking loaves
Is something every child should know.
A mother's life is easier now,
But, oh, I think so much is missin'
For any child who's never sat
And smelled bread baking in the kitchen.
Marjorie M. Eisner

And another of my favorites---

A COOKIE AND A KISS
A house should have a cookie jar
For when it is half past three
And children hurry home from school
As hungry as can be,
There's nothing quite so splendid
In filling children up
As spicy, fluffy ginger cakes
And sweet milk in a cup.
A house should have a mother
waiting with a hug
No matter what the boy brings home --
a puppy or a bug,
For children who only loiter
When the bells ring to dismiss,
If no ones home to greet them
With a cookie and a kiss.

These poems were my favorites as I raised my children and tried to be a good mom!