What Rules the World

Blessings on the hand of woman!

Angels guard her 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,

Mothers first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow—

Grow on for good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or darkness 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—

Mingled where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

William Ross Wallace (1819-1881) wrote “What Rules the World.” Sources indicate it was first submitted to and published in various magazines in 1865. The earliest I found it at Newspapers.com was 1873. The magazines in which the poem was published are probably not on that site.

The Day after Mother's Day

Yesterday was the annual day set aside to honor and celebrate mothers.

To honor mothers, we must begin by honoring motherhood. Psalm 127:3 tells us “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Far too often motherhood, childbearing and child-rearing is looked on as a secondary role, not so important in the grand scheme of things. But the psalmist describes children as an inheritance appointed as a reward from God. If children are a blessing, certainly mothers are blessed.

The blessed mother should love her children -- which is to some extent a natural feeling. But it is also something that should be enhanced by good teaching -- “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.” (Titus 2:4)

Loving godly mothers can exercise great influence in training their children. Lois and Eunice were women of unfeigned faith (“when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5). From his youth Timothy had been taught the holy scriptures (“that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15). The scriptures impart wisdom, but the mothers imparted the scriptures to him.

The word of God lays upon all the duty of honoring mothers (Cf., for example, Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 6:20). Further, virtuous women by their lives and examples earn the right of true love and gratitude of their children. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed!” (Cf. Proverbs 31:10-31 )

Mothers are a most excellent blessing from the Lord! There is nothing like the love of a mother. But there is a love that excels their love. All in all, mothers are part of the descendants of Adam, all of whom sin and come short of the glory of God. There is only one love that is excellent and enduring, the love of the one who is love itself (Cf. 1 John 4:8).

Though the scriptures consistently speak of God in masculine terms -- calling him Father and using masculine pronouns to refer to him -- the prophet Isaiah speaks in at least three passages where God's love for his people is compared to the love of a mother.

God carries us.
Isaiah 46:3-4 “Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” God expresses his relationship to Jacob/Israel as a mother who had conceived them, bore them in the womb -- and will even carry them in their old age! There comes a time when every mother finally says to her child, “You're too big to carry!” But we are never too big for God to carry. (Reminds me of the old Footprints in the Sand poem.)

God comforts us.
Isaiah 66:12-13 “For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Now the prophet draws before us the picture of the loving mother nursing the little babe, carrying him on her sides, bouncing him on the knees. This is not just the comfort from sorrow or trouble, but the comfort -- the absolute bliss, the full ignorance that anything could be wrong -- that the child feels in the presence of his mother. (Compare Psalm 35:9.)

God remembers us.
Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Isaiah builds a beautiful text upon the ashes of the impact of sin. Absent the context, the rhetorical device draws us to desire to shout “No” in answer to whether a woman could forget her sucking child. Sadly, experience tells us the answer is “Yes.” (As does Isaiah.) But look upon this ash-heap. From it rises the love of one who cannot forget -- will not forget! Behold his hands! Gaze and find there his people forever graven in the nail scars of Calvary. HE CANNOT FORGET!

Mother's Day quotes for you

"The carnations on Mother's Day could easily represent all the babies the world will never meet." -- Sarah Arthur

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." -- Tenneva Jordan

“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” -- Jill Churchill

“Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” -- Robert Browning

"Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved." -- Erich Fromm

“The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” -- Jane Sellman

"When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway." -- Erma Bombeck

5 reminders on Mother's Day

Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that...doth not bless their mother.

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Realize that Eve is the mother of all living. God created Adam and Eve according to His divine specifications and for His pleasure. Eve was not from the head or foot of Adam; but from his side to be his companion, near his heart to be loved by him. Eve is uniquely qualified by God for her role a wife and mother. We should be content with the way God has made us.

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Revive the honour of mothers, because God commands it (with promise), because it is right, and because they deserve it. In youth we should honour our mothers by obedience (Deut.21:18; Lev. 19:3). In our adulthood we should honour them with respect (). In their old age we should honour them with our watchcare (I Timothy 5:8). Even in death, we can honour their memories!

Genesis 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying , Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom.
Realize that mother's should first be wives. What once was ideal is in this present age considered an option. Our society often makes it profitable to be an unwed mother. Mothers who are not wives occur for various reasons, including divorce and death of the husband. But there is a course that many are currently steering, wanting to have a baby -- for whatever reason -- without the accompanying "burden" of having a husband. Whatever the reason, it is still sin.

1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Recognize that young mothers should nurture their children and take care of the home. God has uniquely created the woman to bear and nurture children in a way that men cannot.  A young child is helpless and dependent. Its mother is its life. In cases of necessity, someone else may need to step in, but necessity should not trump natural affection. We should not trade this special design for a mess of porridge. We should extol and honour women, wives and mothers for the exalted position in which God has placed them. 

Proverbs 31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...Her children arise up, and call her blessed...
Retain and exalt the example of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10-31. Perhaps the pattern of the virtuous woman has fallen on hard times. Maybe she is too traditional for the egaltarian* and too liberated for the complementarian**. But for the simple Bible student she is just right. She is just what God describes and honours. Notice in his conclusion Lemuel says, "a woman that feareth the Lord..." The virtuous woman is not created by following to the letter certain actions praised in this section. She follows certain actions that she values because she fears the Lord, loves Him and His word. Proper actions flow from a proper relation to the Lord. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The virtuous woman, she shall be praised. Render honour to whom honour is due. Honour thy mother.


* believes that  men and women are equal in all roles and responsibilities
** believes that  men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities