A Mother's Love Is a Haven In the Storms of Life

A mother's love is like an island
in life's ocean vast and wide-
A peaceful, quiet shelter
from the restless, rising tide.
A mother's love is like a fortress,
and we seek protection there
When the waves of tribulation
seem to drown us in despair.
A mother's love is a sanctuary
where our souls can find sweet rest
From the struggle and the tension
of life's fast and futile quest.
A mother's love is like a tower
rising far above the crowd,
And her smile is like the sunshine
breaking through a threatening cloud.
A mother's love is like a beacon
burning bright with faith and prayer,
And through the changing scenes of life
we can find a haven there.
For a mother's life is fashioned
after God's enduring love-
It is endless and unfailing
like the love of Him above.
For God knew he couldn't be everywhere,
So He put His little children
in a loving mother's care.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

ROCK ME TO SLEEP

BACKWARD, turn backward, O time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for to-night!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;-
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

Backward, flow backward, oh, tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears-
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain-
Take them, and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay-
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;-
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, O Mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded, our faces between:
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long I to-night for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and so deep;-
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures-
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Slumber's soft calms o'er my heavy lids creep;-
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it drop over my forehead to-night,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows oncemore
Haply will thron the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep:
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

Mother, dear Mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood's years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;-
Rock me to sleep, Mother-rock me to sleep!

--Elizabeth Akers Allen

Pages by Sally