MOTHER’S DUTY
The evangelistic men
Took to the road again.
And thousands there did glory
As they heard salvation’s story.
In the spotlight (true to type)
They did revel in the hype
With thousand dollar suits
They had parted from their roots.
………………………
They did so well
And spoke of hell
With banquets of fresh salmon.
They spoke of God
And spoke of God
But their new god was Mammon.
………………………
And just a mile away
She was up at break of day.
With hungry mouths to feed
There simply was no time for greed.
A friend had called that day
And that friend was in dismay.
‘I just want some peace and quiet
But my children all run riot.
I just don’t know what to do
So I thought I’d turn to you.
Your children are so great,
A thing I envy, almost hate.’
The woman smiled and sighed,
But you don’t know how oft I cried
To the Lord, for His help and for His care.
I just look at daily things
And the comfort that they bring,
But take the credit? No! No! I wouldn’t dare.
Doing dishes gives me peace,
See what happens to the grease
That adheres, so tenacious to these plates.
Just like sin does cleave to me,
But God’s grace does set me free.
Just one squirt, and see the action of His grace.
Then rinse with water of His Word,
A parallel that’s not absurd
For it gives to me the comfort that I seek.
And I can only do my best
And it is God Who gives me rest,
For I can only fit seven days in every week.
But what’s the balance?
Said the other.
How can I be such a mother?
It’s the balance that I seek
For I feel so small and weak.
The children’s legs are two,
What does that fact mean to you?
Said the woman to her friend to ease the pain.
Love and Discipline are they
So flee from your dismay.
Your children fall but need two legs to stand again.
You’ll support them to the end.
But you’re their Parent, not their Friend,
So give to them the limits that they seek.
Be firm, and yet be fair,
And that will show how much you care.
And one way to spell Rebellion is ‘cheek.’
To change the subject, said the friend,
Have you been, yet, to Gravesend?
Where two evangelists are preaching
And exciting things they’re teaching.
The woman answered, No.
Why ever should I go?
To see those men who now devour the flock?
Vain excitement’s not the thing,
A depth of joy the Spirit brings.
Just wait and see them smitten by the Rock.
You’ve such a narrow view!
And your advice is narrow too!
If you will be my friend
Why don’t you compromise, and bend?
The woman was silent
And stared at the fire.
Oh! What had she said
To raise her friend’s ire.
But after her prayer
Then she was resolved.
And after her prayer
The problem was solved.
A prophet some did mock
But soon the parents were in shock
As they heard the news so rare,
Their children slain by a bear.
And Moses almost died
For his child not circumcised
And a prophet broke his neck
For his sons not held in check.
Our children are not owned
But by God are simply loaned,
To care for and to love and bring up right.
We are parents and not friends
(A fact I say again)
And Love and Discipline will soon put sin to flight.
The influential Dr Spock
Gave one nation quite a shock.
By man’s wisdom he did guide,
And quite soon Respect had died.
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Seems to make folks very wild
And I think it very odd
That old Spock knows more than God.
By the blueness of the bruises
Is the evil quite cast out.
The Bible says it plain enough,
How, then, can people doubt?
I’ve heard enough! Said her friend,
When will your ravings ever end.
You speak of violence and sin
It seems a battle we can’t win.
If I strike my child, you see,
How could he give his love to me?
I won’t teach hatred, so…
I think it’s time for me to go.
The woman shook her head.
You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.
Godly principles are these,
We can’t do just what we please.
Our children formed within the womb
Are not here for gloom and doom.
Their little bodies form within
(Notwithstanding Adam’s sin)
But when our child is born
(It’s my duty now to warn)
The formation’s incomplete
There is yet one more great feat.
The mind must also grow
And good moral seed we sow.
We shape them as we shaped the child within.
We guide them and correct
Or lose control and all respect
And we cannot give them over, friend, to sin.
I will not go on and on
For we cease at twenty-one.
At that time the job is finished and we rest.
From dependence absolute
To a young man, resolute
To follow principles which Babylon will test.
The friend just turned away.
It’s a price too high to pay.
It’s really time for me to fly.
And I sometimes wonder why
I come here for advice.
In future, I’ll think twice.
She walked quickly down the path.
The woman wondered of God’s wrath
For those who disobey
And bring up children in that way.
The evangelistic men
Took to the road again.
Quite an impact they had made
And thousands they had swayed.
Doing God a service
Or so they thought.
Their words were empty
Their souls were bought.
…………………………
And yet this poor woman
Did labour unknown.
Which one in the judgement
Will our Lord God own?
HKP 1999