Pathways of love,
pathways where you guided–
sweet memories of those pathways,
dear Mother, you’ve provided.
Much like a gardener,
you tended to my care–
weeding out some tendencies,
while cultivating those that were fair.
And if there were problems
at school or at play,
the pathway to Mom’s door
would help them go away.
Best of all, we walked pathways
which caused my spirit to be fed
with the truths in God’s Word,
so that by His Spirit I’d be led.
Now as I go about, on my own pathways since I’ve grown,
I’m grateful for the pathways that together we’d known.
P. A. Oltrogge
Photo/Porch of the Lord
(The white stone borders along the flowers in this photo brought to mind the concept of the pathways in the poem. Hope you enjoy the blooms in the photo, which was taken by my daughter.)
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom His world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
Hymn by M. Rinkart, C. Winkworth
Listen, Lord, a mother’s praying, low and quiet, listen, please. Listen what her tears are saying, see her heart upon its knees; lift the load from her bowed shoulders, till she sees and understands, You, Who hold the worlds together, hold her problems in Your hands.
…from Clouds are the Dust of His Feet by Ruth Bell Graham (1992, Crossway Books)
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.” 1 Peter 3:12 ESV
The Porch of the Lord 