"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle"

For Mother's Day, the ward gave all women a booklet of a BYU Women's Conference talk by Elder Packer entitled "Blessings on the Hand of Women." In it he quoted this beautiful poem:

Blessing on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow--
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky--
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

("The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World," William Ross Wallace)

Challenge: "Grow on for the good" and make your mommy proud!

Comments

Reese said…

I LOVED this talk! The words of it echoed in my mind in the days after reading it. In a world that measures success by "projects" or status or careers, it is music to my ears to hear "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" We all want to feel like we're doing something of value, something that will be worth something at some point. It's so easy to get distracted in other very worthy endeavors. It's easy to forget that the small moments we spend with our kids are the most important.
Thank you for sharing.

May 20, 2010 at 7:57 PM

Anonymous said…

great poem - you will be a great mom- DAD

May 22, 2010 at 2:15 AM

Anonymous said…

Motherhood is the most important thing we can do. We have been entrusted with Heavenly Father's children. We are raising, nurturing, teaching, and influencing tomorrow's leaders. Mom

May 28, 2010 at 9:58 PM

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